AJ Wolken staff writer
Full of humor, great music and stellar acting, this year’s musical “The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee” is a must see not only for students, but for all members of the Beverly Hills community.
From the moment you arrive at the venue to buy your tickets and get your seats, there are actors already in character greeting you with their distinct personalities and enthusiasm. The show actively involves the audience in order to make it seem like an actual spelling bee, as before it starts three audience members are invited to go onto the stage and join the bee. This keeps the audience on their toes, as you never know what could happen with the spectators who have joined the show. The interactivity of the show is fun and entertaining, and is just the beginning.
The music incorporated into the show is excellent, as the actors’ impressive singing is accompanied by live music conducted by music teacher Bill Bradbury. The songs are intertwined with the plot of the show, so they not only add an entertaining factor to the bee, but also carry the light-hearted tone of the story without losing the attention of the audience. The contestants in the bee, played by Owen Lloyd, Solomon Margo, Kate Froemling, Daniel Kohanbash, Sarah Rudolph, and Edem Messick, each have their own solos to express their characters’ journies to the competition, in which they each dazzle the audience with their spectacular singing abilities. The characters who run the bee, played by Johanna Lengrel, Chris Vickers Rinecki, and Adrianna Medina-Santiago, also excel in their roles and solos.
The acting was excellent, as each actor seemed perfectly selected to play the role they were assigned to. The acting was so natural that if you didn’t know any of the actors, it would be hard to imagine them as anyone but their character. Even when not in the spotlight, or off to the side, the actors remained in character as they cheered when someone spelled a word right or were saddened when someone was eliminated.
The musical is a must-see; it is intriguing for all 90 minutes and entertains viewers of all ages. The hilarious and interactive musical “The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee” is playing in the Salter Family Theater on March 9,10,11 at 7 PM and a matinee on Wednesday, March 8 at 2 PM.