#1
Posted: 2/19/05 at 6:07pm
Well, I just got back from The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, and let me say: it might be the best thing I've ever seen. Granted, I haven't seen a lot, but it is nearly flawless. Everything was first-rate.
Acting: What an ensemble. Not a weak link in the cast. Each actor gets his/her chance in the spotlight. I was especially impressed with Llana, Fogler, Keenan-Bolger, and Saltzberg.
Score: It's a great Finn score (definitely need to get the cast recording), but it's not the main focus of the show. It fits in nicely with the show, but lets the book be the star. Loved "My Unfortunate Erection".
Book: Hilarious, touching, and very entertaining. The sentences for each word were the best. Characters were well-developed, and completely believable. I've been each of those characters at one time.
Set: Ha! Looked exactly like my school gymnasium. The backdrops were effective as well.
Direction: Lapine does an admirable job; there are quite a few clever gimmicks here, especially in the rapid-fire spelling rounds.
The audience was filled up, and loved it as well. Hopefully I'll get to go back when it moves to Broadway (!), but if not, I'll be content with having seen it now. I really don't think there's a way to improve it.
Acting: What an ensemble. Not a weak link in the cast. Each actor gets his/her chance in the spotlight. I was especially impressed with Llana, Fogler, Keenan-Bolger, and Saltzberg.
Score: It's a great Finn score (definitely need to get the cast recording), but it's not the main focus of the show. It fits in nicely with the show, but lets the book be the star. Loved "My Unfortunate Erection".
Book: Hilarious, touching, and very entertaining. The sentences for each word were the best. Characters were well-developed, and completely believable. I've been each of those characters at one time.
Set: Ha! Looked exactly like my school gymnasium. The backdrops were effective as well.
Direction: Lapine does an admirable job; there are quite a few clever gimmicks here, especially in the rapid-fire spelling rounds.
The audience was filled up, and loved it as well. Hopefully I'll get to go back when it moves to Broadway (!), but if not, I'll be content with having seen it now. I really don't think there's a way to improve it.