#1
Posted: 3/29/06 at 10:02am
(Yeah, I would have posted this on the Chicago Board - but seriously, Im FROM Chicago and I barely ever check that board. Its dead, which is sad. Besides, I figured more than the 8 people who read that board would care about this.:))
*THE 25TH ANNUAL PUTNAM COUNTY SPELLING BEE*
(Chicago Production)
Drury Lane Water Tower Place
First Preview 3/29/2006
Fear not, lovelies, the Chicago "Spelling Bee" is in fine shape even on its first night of previews...
Everyone in the show is near-perfectly cast, and with a few more performances in front of crowds, I expect them to warm up and play a lot more with their roles and situations. Lucia Spina (Ms. Piretti) and Bill Levin (VP Panch) are dynamite and dead-on in their roles, and James Earl Jones II (Mitch Mahoney) has a killer voice - but its the kids who win your hearts, particularly the bombastic Derrick Trumbly as the homeschooled Leaf Coneybear (don't we all know a kid like Leaf?), and adorable Cristen Paige as Olive Ostrovsky. Christine Wenry as Logainne Schwarzandgrubanaire provided some of the evenings most memorable moments - from her political rant to her final emotional moments. And let us not forget Jen Sese as Marcy Park, who is delightfully stone-faced and out to win. But "Spelling Bee" has always been The William Barfee show, and Eric Roedeger is awesome. He's doing a near-perfect Dan Fogler impression, and it's totally effortless-seeming. The evenings highlights were "The I love you song" sung powerfully by Spina, Jones, and Paige, "Im not that smart" performed like a wild ride by Trumbly, and the all-consuming "Life is Pandemoneum" song, which tore down the theatre and rebuilt it just in time for the final note.
The Drury Lane Water Tower theatre is just about the right size - though the mix of elementary school gym and classy theatre makes for some interesting ambiance, which the brilliant minds behind Spelling Bee worked into the show. ("Have you ever been in a gym with chandeliers?")
The audience members enjoyed themselves trememdously - as evidenced by the hysterical laughter. My only complaint is that - despite its subject matter - Spelling Bee might be a little too mature for certain kids, and there were a lot in attendance, which led to an unruly house at some points - particularly the "My unfortunate erection" number, sung wonderfully by Brad Weinstock as Issac "Chip" Berkowitx (in the Chicago production, he's Jewish, not Asian.)
I have tickets again to see this show on April 5th. These Preview tickets came as a total shock - and thanks to my hookup - and I'm excited to go back in a few weeks and see how the performers have thrown themselves even more into these roles. Actual opening night is April 11, 2006.
Welcome to Chicago, "Spelling Bee!"
(and, for those of you who care about this sort of thing - the stage door at Drury Lane is on the East side of the building, and the performers original contracts are for 6 months. Toodles!)
*THE 25TH ANNUAL PUTNAM COUNTY SPELLING BEE*
(Chicago Production)
Drury Lane Water Tower Place
First Preview 3/29/2006
Fear not, lovelies, the Chicago "Spelling Bee" is in fine shape even on its first night of previews...
Everyone in the show is near-perfectly cast, and with a few more performances in front of crowds, I expect them to warm up and play a lot more with their roles and situations. Lucia Spina (Ms. Piretti) and Bill Levin (VP Panch) are dynamite and dead-on in their roles, and James Earl Jones II (Mitch Mahoney) has a killer voice - but its the kids who win your hearts, particularly the bombastic Derrick Trumbly as the homeschooled Leaf Coneybear (don't we all know a kid like Leaf?), and adorable Cristen Paige as Olive Ostrovsky. Christine Wenry as Logainne Schwarzandgrubanaire provided some of the evenings most memorable moments - from her political rant to her final emotional moments. And let us not forget Jen Sese as Marcy Park, who is delightfully stone-faced and out to win. But "Spelling Bee" has always been The William Barfee show, and Eric Roedeger is awesome. He's doing a near-perfect Dan Fogler impression, and it's totally effortless-seeming. The evenings highlights were "The I love you song" sung powerfully by Spina, Jones, and Paige, "Im not that smart" performed like a wild ride by Trumbly, and the all-consuming "Life is Pandemoneum" song, which tore down the theatre and rebuilt it just in time for the final note.
The Drury Lane Water Tower theatre is just about the right size - though the mix of elementary school gym and classy theatre makes for some interesting ambiance, which the brilliant minds behind Spelling Bee worked into the show. ("Have you ever been in a gym with chandeliers?")
The audience members enjoyed themselves trememdously - as evidenced by the hysterical laughter. My only complaint is that - despite its subject matter - Spelling Bee might be a little too mature for certain kids, and there were a lot in attendance, which led to an unruly house at some points - particularly the "My unfortunate erection" number, sung wonderfully by Brad Weinstock as Issac "Chip" Berkowitx (in the Chicago production, he's Jewish, not Asian.)
I have tickets again to see this show on April 5th. These Preview tickets came as a total shock - and thanks to my hookup - and I'm excited to go back in a few weeks and see how the performers have thrown themselves even more into these roles. Actual opening night is April 11, 2006.
Welcome to Chicago, "Spelling Bee!"
(and, for those of you who care about this sort of thing - the stage door at Drury Lane is on the East side of the building, and the performers original contracts are for 6 months. Toodles!)
There's always room for pathos - and jazz hands.
