Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating * * * *
Cast: Maisie Young, Sarah Hale, Sarah Gallegos, Miles Braithwaite, James Markham, Phil Teles Amaro, Abigail Fitzgerald, Michael Bryan, Blair Smith.
If you had not purchased a programme and read for yourselves the biographies of the individuals on the stage, then there will be many gasps of astonishment when you discover that not all the incredible cast are training to be actors. Whilst reading that one is a Pharmacology student and then casting your eye further down the page to discover a Psychology student in amongst the names, you might be forgiven in thinking that this perhaps is just another run of the mill student show.
Run of the mill it is not, and as the rest of the cast are made up of first year LIPA students, The 25th Annual Putnam Spelling Bee is a two-hour musical that is funny, engaging and very entertaining.
The story centres around six children who are desperate to win the Bee for their own reasons. Each have their own ways of spelling the words given to them, whether it be by whispering the word into their hand, as is favoured by Olive Ostrovsky (Maisie Young), or, if like William Barfee (Miles Braithwaite) you have a magic shiny shoe that spells the word for you on the floor, then surely nothing can go wrong? In charge is Vice Principal Douglas Panch (Michael Bryan) who after an absence of five years is happy to step in to help out, alongside former winner of the Spelling Bee, Rona Lisa Peretti (Abigail Fitzgerald).
What brings warmth and character to this show is the book written by Rachel Sheinkin. Each cast member is strong in vocals but those that shine are Maisie Young and Abigail Fitzgerald. Young’s voice is stunning and alongside Fitzgerald, these two are phenomenal. Bryan and Fitzgerald work very well together and have some of the best laughs of the night. These two are very natural with each other and seemed comfortable to throw in a few off the script lines.
This is a strong show in all of its elements. Supported beautifully by the band, lead by Musical Director Phil Glenny and with the set design by Emily Buckland (books as far as the eye can see). Some sequences are slotted in to break up the action, which work exceptionally well choreographed by Evan Garrett and directed by Cath Williams.
There is some audience participation, perhaps best to dust off that dictionary and have a quick glance before setting off, but perhaps while you do, if you come across the words, brilliant, talented and entertaining then you know you are in for a good night.
Janie Phillips