A.C.T. Productions Takes First Prize at the 'Putnam County Spelling Bee' - Review
Amicus Community Theater's inaugural musical "The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee" puts Orange County on notice.
Trying to express how impactful Amicus Community Theater’s performance of, “The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee,” at the Chance Theater was right out of the gate, I can only express it by borrowing a term from professional wrestling in that they earned a, “Road Warrior Pop.”
For the uninitiated, the Road Warriors (later known to WWF/E fans as the Legion of Doom) were the greatest tag team in professional wrestling history. Inspired by the “Mad Max,” films (and later sharing their name from the “Super Friends” villains), they had an entrance that instantly electrified arenas. The moment Tony Iommi’s iconic opening guitar riff from Black Sabbath’s “Iron Man” blasted throughout the area, thousands of fans exploded (i.e. popped). Before Hawk and Animal even appeared through the curtain, the audience already knew they were about to witness something special.
That’s exactly the feeling Amicus Community Theater created on opening night of their inaugural production.
The instant the cast launched into, “The Spelling Rules,” there was a shift in the room. The audience wasn’t just watching anymore anymore, they were completely invested, and in my case, I was actually rooting for certain characters to win (just like professional wrestling), knowing there was a predetermined conclusion. Belly laughs came ease, my attention never wavered, and the energy inside the theater became infectious. It was that rare moment when you realize, within the first few minutes, that you’re in exceptionally capable hands and that the next two hours are going to be something memorable.
That’s a, “Road Warrior Pop.”
Featuring music and lyrics by William Finn, a book by Rachel Sheinkin, and conceived by Rebecca Feldman, “The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee,” walks the perfect line between laugh-out-loud comedy and childhood heartbreak. Under the leadership of co-directors and producers Aleece Hanson and Rheannon Rozewski, this production don’t just leans in, but falls into every quirky, touching and hilarious moment while allowing each performer to have their moment in the spotlight.
Leading the bee is Angela Ryan Tannas as former champion Rona Lisa Peretti. She delivers some of the best deadpan, improvised one-liners of the evening. Alec Waters is excellent as Vice Principal Douglas Panch, the last minute replacement, beaten down by life and his students.
The young competitors are wonderfully portrayed by a talented ensemble. Raquel Villaescusa somehow makes the overachieving, political activist with speech impediment, Logainne Schwartzandgrubenierre delightful, while Katerina Coronado’s Marcy Park forced perfectionism as a polyglot pianist unravels from the pressure placed on her by her parental units. Nat Bull has fun as Chip Tolentino, facing whatever pops up as an awkward youth. Jay Arroyo and Larry Tannas provide excellent support as Carl Dad and Dan Dad. Izzy Klein, April Viehmann, Kayla Chen and Ginee Hong round out the cast beautifully, contributing to the show’s lively ensemble spirit as school girls, parents, siblings and whatever else was needed of them to ensure every scene comes to life.
There are handful of performances rise to unforgettable heights. Haven Hanson is absolutely perfect as the wonderfully eccentric homeschooler, Leaf Coneybear, creating one of the evening’s most endearing characters with infectious innocence and comedic instincts. Ryan Hemmerling gives a standout performance as William Barfée (pronounced Barf-eh making it clear, there is an accent aigu), fully embracing the role’s unique physicality and mucus filled humor while revealing the character’s surprisingly tender heart.
“The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee,” scene stealer is Alisha Zuberi who delivers perhaps the show’s most emotionally resonant performance as Olive Ostrovsky, she redefined, “yes-and” going with whatever was thrown at her and will be one to watch for when she relocates to the East Coast..
The evening’s biggest showstopper belongs to Eliseo Payan as Mitch Mahoney. Though his stage time mostly fades into the ensemble, he killed it a powerhouse rendition of, “The Prayer of the Comfort Counselor.” His second tenor vocals takes the top spot as the production’s undeniable highlight.
Behind the scenes, the production team deserves equal recognition for bringing this ambitious musical to life. Co-directors and producers Aleece Hanson and Rheannon Rozewski have assembled an exceptionally creative team whose work is evident in the love of stage and song. Music Director Kim Le keeps William Finn’s score vibrant and emotionally rich, while choreographer Taylor Ozuna and assistant choreographer Allyson Blackstone create energetic, character-driven movement.
Stage Manager Cat Hanson keeps the production running seamlessly, allowing the cast to perform with confidence and precision. Haven Hanson’s triple role as Performer, Production and Costume Designer showcases remarkable creativity, with costumes and scenic elements that perfectly capture the whimsical spirit of the competition. Assistant Vocal Director Megan Waters helps ensure the ensemble’s strong vocal performances throughout the evening, while adding to their resume as lighting designers Ozuna and Rozewski create an atmosphere with the coldness of a school auditorium yet highlighting the warmth of those internal monologues. Rozewski’s audio design delivers clear, balanced sound that allows every lyric and joke to land effectively.
For their inaugural production, Amicus Community Theater has set an incredibly high standard. Their opening night of, “The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee,” was filled with side-splitting laughter, heart, memorable performances and the unmistakable joy that comes from artists creating theatre for the love of it. Their first spelling bee earns an easy A+.
If this production is any indication of what’s to come, audiences have every reason to be excited about Amicus Community Theater’s future.
To quote the late Road Warrior, Hawk, “Oh, What a Rush!”
Follow Amicus Community Theater on Instagram @amicuscommunitytheater to see what’s next for this theater company.
Amicus Community Theater’s, “The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee,” at the Chance Theater is completely sold out.
5 out of 5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐