The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee
at James Madison High School

Reviewed on April 30, 2016

Lily Brock
Langley High School
Submitted for publication to Washington Post - Fairfax

There is perhaps no phrase in the American vernacular more indicative of glory, eminence, and divine conquest than "county spelling bee winner." It evokes a majestic image. Crisp overalls. Sweat-touched upper lip. Consolation apple juice for the eliminated losers. James Madison High School lent roughly two hilarious hours to such a visual this past Saturday, exploring quirks, identity, and the power of friendship in their production of "The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee."

With book by Rachel Sheinkin and music and lyrics by William Finn, "The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee" premiered in 2005 to critical acclaim. Garnering a Tony award, the show documents a county spelling bee chockful of lovable eccentrics, each grappling with his own ambition and evolving identity during this formative experience.

Justice Allen brought a kind-hearted naivety to the role of Olive Ostrovsky as her final competition, William Barfee as portrayed by Jack Herrin, complemented her sweetness with a sour pedantry. The two brought individual quirks to their respective roles, much to the audience's delight. As Rona Lisa Peretti, Julia Mann captivated with amazingly strong vocals. With the grace and authority of Putnam County's top realtor, Mann anchored the production. Mann's co-part, Mitch Coomer as Doug Panch was downright hilarious as the desperate vice principal. Coomer masterfully deadpanned wry definitions and uses-in-a-sentence, occasionally bursting out at a contestant.

In "I Speak Six Languages," Paige Cilluffo demonstrated an impressive array of talents as Marcy Park. Cilluffo whipped out yoga poses, hockey maneuvers, and impressive choreography, all-the-while supporting sturdy vocals. Neal Going was equally hysterical in his portrayal of Leaf Coneybear, the bee's helmet-clad homeschooler. Going danced and giggled without a care, perfectly embodying that lovable kid from your neighborhood who never really stopped treating apple juice as a delicacy. The general ensemble brought spirit and sharp execution to every dance number in which they tore across the stage in as parochial school girls, boy scouts, and a family that never abandoned the 1960s precepts of hippie-dom.

The play acknowledged the James Madison High School auditorium in which it was set, incorporating it as the bee's own setting in Putnam County. The set itself consisted of a pair of bleachers and a back flat painted in vibrant primary colors, contributing to the childish atmosphere. The plaid jumpers, Boy Scout uniforms, and tie dyed t-shirts nicely complemented the show's general energy.

All-in-all, thanks to the individual talent of each of its cast members and shameless spirit of the collective cast, James Madison High School turned out a phenomenal production.

Kyle Dannahey
Lake Braddock Secondary School
Submitted for publication to Washington Post - Fairfax

Throw six eccentric elementary school spelling enthusiasts with back-stories as complicated as the words they are asked to spell and you probably wouldn't expect much. This, miraculously, works out beautifully in James Madison High School's production of The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee. The high energy, farcical musical about six spelling bee contestants vying for a spot at the national bee provides raucous laughter and a surprising amount of heart.

The musical, conceived by Rebecca Feldman, is based on the original play C-R-E-P-U-S-C-L-E and was originally produced on Broadway in 2005. The show features music and lyrics by William Finn and a book by Rachel Sheinkin and was originally nominated for six Tony Awards, winning two. The show follows the Spelling Bee experience of six adolescents and their successes, failures, and insecurities. Peppered with surrealistic moments of inner monologue and soliloquy the musical is a powerhouse of comedy, introspection, and realizations about youth.

Justice Allen's performance as Olive Ostrovsky tugged at the heartstrings as she waits for her father to come to the Bee from work, her mother away in India for nine months. Allen was able to convey her character's youthful innocence with much sweetness. Jack Herrin's hilarious portrayal of William Barfee did not fail to leave the audience cracking up at his eccentric "Magic Foot" or his exuberance in spelling his words correctly. Balancing these two performers were Julia Mann as Rona Peretti and Mitch Coomer as Douglas Panch. Mann's voice was a powerful supplement to her strong and evident understanding of character while Coomer either provided, supported, or set up most of the greatest comedic moments of the evening.

One very smart innovation in this particular production was the use of a fairly large ensemble as the "audience" at the Bee. This ensemble provided some much needed support in energy and vocals at many moments in the show and small groups acted as dancers in the contestant's inner monologues. Speaking of inner monologues, perhaps the showstopper of the evening was Paige Cilluffo's performance as Marcy Park especially in her song "I Speak Six Languages."

Madison's technical elements were, for the most part, greatly supportive of the performance. Kelly Brent's and William Kegley's props design maintained an impressive attention to detail and added a lot to several numbers; specifically, in "I Speak Six Languages" the props added a fun level of visual element to the song that really made the number pop. Faith Carlson, Mitch Coomer, and William Kegley's set design was colorful and simple, allowing the actors and their fascinating characters to take centrality.

A show like Spelling Bee can be a big gamble for a high school, but James Madison rose to the challenge with grace and success. Kudos to cast and crew are immensely deserved.

Mary-Margaret Chalk
Langley High School
Submitted for publication to FCPS Community News

As children, memorizing lists of vocabulary words for grade school spelling tests seems nothing more than a chore to most students. To six peers of Putnam County, however, knowing the spelling of hundreds of obscure words not only means victory at a bee, but entails growing up and self discovery. James Madison High School discovers who a winner truly is in it hilarious production of The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee.

Making its Broadway debut in 2005, Putnam County Spelling Bee features the story of six spellers, whose spelling talents are as strong as their quirks, and their experience in trying to win the regional level bee to advance to nationals. What makes this show unique, beyond its humor that ranges from slapstick, to dry, to dark, is how the audience is a crucial part of the story. Volunteers are called up on stage with no expectation of the words they will receive, and "pandemonium" ensues at the bee. Engrained within the never-ending humor, is a deeper emotional message for each of the character as they learn that their more to spelling than winning.

As a live orchestra produced its first sounds, a voice followed, but not coming from the stage. Entering in from behind the audience were lead characters making their way to the stage, or rather, the Putnam County gym, successfully encapsulating the audience in a feeling of true presence at the spelling bee.

Every speller was able to define their particular personality throughout the bee providing campy contrast from one another. Olive Ostrovsky (Justice Allen) consistently displayed sweetness that drew sympathy towards her character, especially in numbers including "My Friend the Dictionary" and the "I Love You Song" involving thought of her neglectful parents. Olive's foil, Barfee (Jack Herrin), used strong physicality to display the bizarre, and initially cold natured, persona of his character while having sensitive spot somewhere within that was noticeable after his affection for Olive developed. Also notable was Douglas Panch (Mitch Coomer), the Vice Principal and announcer of the bee. Coomer conveyed extreme commitment in ability to give uproarious uses of spelling words in a sentence to contestants while maintaining a straight face.

An essential source of emotion, was Leaf Coneybear (Neal Going), who, sporting his brightly colored cape and patched jeans, first appeared adorably clueless. Going, however, was able to highlight a more thoughtful side of Leaf in "I'm Not That Smart," while keeping his goofy foundation. Marcy Park (Paige Cilluffo) had vocals as strong as her character's personality in "I Speak Six Languages" that added to the intimidating front of her character. Other contestants, including Chip Tolentino (Will Salwen), who loses after his "unfortunate distraction" towards a beautiful girl he spots, and Logainne Schwartzandgrunenierre (Hunter Slingbaum), an opinionated and stressed daughter of two dads, completed the wide array of personalities and extracted more laughter from the audience. While some cast members struggled vocally, every character displayed strong acting choices throughout.

Technical attention to detail was very impressive in both props chosen for each contestant, and in effective lighting decisions, most notable during flashbacks of contestants to their personal lives. A large ensemble of friends of spellers, who routinely displayed high energy which lacked from others at a few points in the show, utilized a well-designed set as well as space in the audience creating an all-encompassing environment.

Through words most have never heard of, constant wit and humor, and valuable lessons, James Madison's production of the 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee was a success, leaving the audience with both an expanded vocabulary and a smile.

Maggie Klein
Oakton High School
Submitted for publication to Patch.com - Fairfax

Chimerical. Unreal, magical, visionary, wildly fanciful, highly unrealistic. C-h-i-m-e-r-i-c-a-l, chimerical. As spelled nervously by young Olive Ostrovsky, Madison High School's recent production of The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee was an imaginative and whimsical production that combined hilarity and themes of growing up in a downright chimerical show.

Based on a play called C-R-E-P-U-S-C-U-L-E by Rebecca Feldman and The Farm, the story was turned into a musical with book by Rachel Sheinkin, music and lyrics by William Finn, and additional material by Jay Reiss. It opened on Broadway in 2005 and was nominated for six Tony awards, winning two.

Focused on six competing spellers, each quirky character was played with commitment and range. As the two finalists, sweet, shy Olive Ostrovsky (Justice Allen) and arrogant William Barfée (Jack Herrin) demonstrated consistent yet layered characters that kept their believability while undergoing major character developments and blossoming chemistry between the two of them. Ostrovsky's beautiful soprano voice was shown off in "The I Love You Song," and Herrin's intense physicality and use of his "magic foot" to help him spell had the audience in stitches.

Like her over-achieving character, Paige Cilluffo excelled in every area of her performance as Marcy Park. Her consistent acting, impressive dancing, and powerful vocals made "I Speak Six Languages" one of the show's highlights. As the ditzy, juvenile Leaf Coneybear, Neal Going won over the audience with sadder moments in "I'm Not That Smart" and his hilarious trance-like spelling of various South American rodent names. Returning champion Chip Tolentino (Will Salwen) proved that the best spellers don't necessarily win after being eliminated for a mistake caused by a puberty-blamed "unfortunate distraction" that had the audience in an uproar, and young, pressured Logainne Schwartzandgrunenierre (Hunter Slingbaum) utilized a lisp and nervous body language to create a convincing portrayal of the ten-year-old speller that drew sympathy in numbers like "Woe Is Me."

Other standouts included Julia Mann as moderator and former Spelling Bee champion Rona Lisa Peretti, whose astounding vocals made every solo memorable. Mitch Coomer as Vice Principal Douglas Panch, had deadpan delivery and perfect comedic timing which never failed to garner laughs. Additionally, ex-convict comfort counselor Madge Mahoney (Neveen Shawish) and Logainne's dads (Patrick Selent and Sam Ressin) added defined characters and comic relief to an already funny show.

While originally written for a small cast, Madison found creative ways to incorporate a large ensemble. As "cheering sections" for each speller, the ensemble added enthusiastic comments and striking harmonies from the front seats of the house. Remaining in character throughout the entire intermission, they helped fully submerge the audience into the world of the Bee. When they were on stage, the ensemble brought boundless energy and impressive choreography in numbers such as "Pandemonium." Especially notable was tap ensemble member Anna Henderson, whose advanced moves and flawless technique was commendable.

The unique feature of audience participation added humor, as volunteers were given easy words such as "cow" and "Mexican," and frequent utilization of the aisles made the show interactive and fun. The Madison orchestra provided well-timed live music from backstage, and immaculate attention to detail with props further developed each character. Oversized bleachers made the contestants appear smaller and thus younger, and the interesting use of colored lights created a youthful atmosphere.

With talented leads, an energized ensemble, and a versatile crew, The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee came together in perfect syzygy (syzygy- when the earth aligns with the moon and sun. S-y-z-y-g-y. Syzygy) in this well-conceived production by Madison High School.

Aline Dolinh
Oakton High School
Submitted for publication to Connection

How do you spell H-I-L-A-R-I-O-U-S? It's an adjective, meaning "arousing great merriment; extremely funny" – and it exactly describes James Madison High School's production of The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee. Thanks to sharp comic timing and idiosyncratic character choices, this show sweetly captured all the awkwardness and oddity of early adolescence.

Originally conceived by Rebecca Feldman, with music and lyrics by William Finn and a book by Rachel Sheinkin, the musical follows six eccentric elementary schoolers competing at the titular Bee, along with the three equally odd adults supervising them. It earned six Tony nominations when it made its Broadway debut in 2005 and has been performed worldwide since, being especially notable for its usage of audience participation and ad-libbing.

As enthusiastic bee moderator Rona Lisa Peretti, Julia Mann's full-bodied, mature voice brought new dimension to the role. Her fellow judge, Douglas Panch (Mitch Coomer) earned countless laughs thanks to his deadpan delivery of increasingly outlandish words, and his eventual second-act breakdown was side-splittingly histrionic. As for the competitors themselves, the initially insecure yet earnest Leaf Coneybear (Neal Going) won the audience's hearts thanks to his charming, genuine performance and ability to rapidly shift into his spelling "trances." Ultra-competitive William Barfee also underwent a transformation from high-strung to heartfelt thanks to Jack Herrin's performance, marked by the exaggerated physicality of his "magic foot," the alleged secret to his spelling success. The overachieving and initially opaque Marcy Park (Paige Cilluffo) also shined in the second act thanks to her strong vocals in "I Speak Six Languages," a number marked by an energetic ensemble and adroit usage of props representing Marcy's multiple talents.

The entire ensemble, including those seated in the audience, remained in character throughout the show, an inspired move that further immersed the spectators into the whimsical world of the bee. The cast's commitment to their roles, even when not the main focus onstage, helped make each speller a unique and clearly-defined character. Two unexpected standouts among the company, despite their meager stage time, were Logainne Schwartzandgrunenierre's hilariously overbearing fathers (Patrick Selent and Sam Ressin).

Group choreography shined especially in "Magic Foot," a number characterized by intricate tap dancing moves, as well as in the acrobatics of the aforementioned "I Speak Six Languages." Ensemble dancer Anna Henderson, who was in both, showcased especially deft flexibility in her leaps.

Despite occasionally flat sound, the orchestra was impressively able to pick up cues quickly even from backstage, and interesting choices such as showcasing a xylophone during a slow-motion section paid off. The simple set, mainly consisting of a pair of high, oversized bleachers, subtly reinforced the immaturity of the characters by making them appear diminutive in comparison.

Overall, the cast's consistent commitment and quirky character-based comedy made this musical a rollicking delight to watch. James Madison High School definitely gave us a champion-worthy performance – and stirred the inner child inside all of us.

Molly Warndorf
Woodgrove High School
Submitted for publication to Fairfax County Times

The bleachers of a gymnasium loomed over the seemingly small children. The audience watched as one of the fiercest and most aggressive competitions started to take hold. This competition was fiercer than a basketball game, fiercer than a mom cheering on her kid at a soccer game, it was, a spelling bee. James Madison's production of The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee had the entire auditorium roaring with laughter throughout the whole performance.

Conceived by Rebecca Feldman with music and lyrics by William Finn, The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee is filled with histrionic humor, and outrageous characters. It tells the story of six spellers striving to do their best, not living up to expectations, and dealing with their odd traits. This Tony award winning musical showcases the importance of friendship, and the value of winning and losing.

The cast relied on detailed development of characters, the energy of the ensemble, and the well-conducted power of the orchestra. Although originally only meant for a cast of around eight, James Madison effectively expanded the musical to a 39-person cast, and added quick-paced student-choreographed dance numbers.

Justice Allen, playing Olive Ostrovsky, engaged the audience and effectively developed the character relationship between Olive and William Barfee, played by Jack Herrin. Allen demonstrated a beautiful voice in the songs "My Friend the Dictionary," and "The I Love You Song." Herrin stole the show in many moments with his bizarre character, and was able to build upon a growing love story.

Playing the adorable, naïve, and hilarious Leaf Coneybear, Neal Going captured the character in its entirety. Going's remained completely in character the entire time, and developed an intricate and well-thought out character. Although the character is written in for comedic effect, Going was able to flawlessly capture more tender moments in the show with ease and versatility. Marcy Park, portrayed by Paige Cilluffo, stole the stage and the attention of all audience members as the "lady of intermittent sorrows". In her song "I Speak Six Languages," Cilluffo showcased nearly flawless vocals, inhabited the character down to its core, and navigated the entire stage with humorous physicality. Other spotlight characters include the word pronouncer Douglas Panch, played by Mitch Coomer. Coomer never broke character even throughout the "pandemonium" of the spellers on stage, and was even able to work and mold the show towards audience volunteers.

The vibrant lighting in this production helped to swiftly communicate what was happening in the show. In hilarious moments such as Leaf Coneybear's trance, lighting would help to pull that moment out from what was going on behind, and create other worlds within the Putnam's gymnasium. The set was very detailed, as were the props. Each kid sitting on the bleacher had a book-bag filled with various nick-knacks that they could use to remain in character even when they weren't the center of attention. At one point Marcy pulled out a calculator, and begin typing messages to the audience volunteer sitting next to her.

James Madison's production of The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee lifted the spirits of all in the audience, and had all members keeping in mind to keep a positive "Weltanschauung", or perspective, on life.