Spelling Bee Tour Review! Dallas--12/1/06

[Parks]

Posted: 12/2/06 at 5:53pm

*NOTE--some possible spoilers--and I wrote some of this last night and some today. I also saw the show again today :-P*

Ah! I had been waiting for this show to come to town for several months now! I was going to try to see the show Tuesday night, but couldn't find a friend to go with or the funds to afford a 16 dollar ticket.

Well, tonight--I went. I sat down in my 2nd to last row in the balcony seat, surprised at how close I still was to the stage. Sure, I was high up--but...eh, ok. I moved down to the first row of the balcony. It was a sad site. The Majestic Theater was not full at all! Well, the balcony where I was (that probably sat about 500 or 600 people) had about 50 people in it, making it very easy to scoot up.

Now--on to the actual show!

Well, the show started--and I'll just say the things that I thought stuck out.
-First off--Jennifer Simard is fabulous. She brings a new take to the role of Rona. She has a fabulous voice and she has great comedic timing. Her hair kind of bothered me though, I'm not going to lie. Maybe it was just from where I was sitting--which was still up pretty high.
-Miguel Cervantes--he did a very nice job as Chip! His voice was very different from Jose's (is that the original's name?). He couldn't sing some of the higher notes--which he took down an octave, but it was ok. He certainly does not look like an adolescent. His performance was good--and his "My Unfortunate Erection" was hilarious. The audience loved it!
-Eric Peterson as Barfee--one of my favorite cast members. He was a lot like Dan Fogler, but at the same time, he brought his own new mannerisms to the role. He was funny and had great energy!
-Katie Boren as Marcy Park--I immediately noticed, she sounded like she had a deeper, more mature sounding voice than Deborah. She seemed much more intimidating than Deborah, and she did a pretty good job. Her I Speak Six Languages was pretty good, but for some reason, the piano bit just didn't make me laugh nearly as hard as the first time I saw it. Perhaps it was the fact that I was expecting it...
-Michael Zahler as Leaf Coneybear--one of the first things I noticed was that his voice was a little higher than Jesse's. He seemed to be having a hard time hitting some of the lower notes (which aren't that low), but he still did a very good job. He didn't miss a beat. He was hilarious as one of Logainne's dads.
-Alan H. Green as Mitch--well, I personally didn't care for his voice (it was very airy) at first--but he totally won me over with his Prayer of the Comfort Counselor. That song probably stole the entire show. It had the audience cheering because he was holding some notes out for a long time and it was great. Alan looked MUCH more intimidating than Derrick. Derrick was kind of scrawny looking, while Alan had muscle. It was impressive to see him go from an incredibly scary looking man to the flamboyantly gay father of Logainne. He was fabulous!
-James Kall as Panch--absolutely hilarious for the most part. He sounds just like the man on the original cast recording--which was kind of nice for me, since it usually takes some adjusting for me to get used to a new voice. He did throw away some lines that had potential to be very funny, but he did a fabulous job anyways. I liked him a lot.
-Sarah Stiles as Logainne Schwartzandgrubenierre--well, I noticed that her voice is much higher than Sarah Saltzberg's, but that was alright. She was hilarious in all of her scenes/songs. She had a hard time singing some of the lower notes. She brought a new take to the role. She played Logainne much more innocent than Sarah S. I almost wanted to cry in the Woe Is Me reprise. She did a teriffic job. I know that she was an understudy on Broadway, and I hope that when Sarah S. leaves the show that this Sarah will take over!
Now--I've been saving Lauren Worsham as Olive for last. Olive is my favorite character in the show--and Lauren brought a very different take to the role than Celia did. Celia played Olive being very reserved and cool. Lauren played the role very CRAZY and much more like a 10 year old would be. Well, maybe she played it like a 5 year old would. During the earlier scenes, it was great--but in my favorite scene in the show, "The I Love You Song", the song wasn't quite as touching. I guess I'm just so used to Celia. Don't get me wrong--I loved Lauren's take on the role. I just didn't care for her I Love You Song quite as much. It was just a different take on it.

The audience members that came up--2 out of 4 of them were a little annoying...trying to be their own character on stage...one of them, on the word MEXICANS asked "for a definition...por favor". I liked the final girl who was left. She was definitely showing some cleavage--and her first introduction (when she was walking up to the mic) was, "Ashley (I think was her name) had an argument this morning with her mother and told her, 'Mom, it's not that big of a deal! It's only a spelling bee. I don't need to wear a bra!" At that point, she almost died--she was so embarrassed. She used her number card to cover up her...assets.

Now--the show itself is almost exactly the same as it is on Broadway, but I noticed a few changes...

-No more anti-Bush speech by Logainne after the cell phone incident? She talked about Kramer from Seinfeld last week--and it was funny, but just not the same. Is this how it is in all the cities or just in Dallas?
-Logainne no longer says "Jesus Christ!" in Woe Is Me, and instead says, "Jeez Louise!" Again, a Texas thing, perhaps?
-Of course, there are several Dallas references in the show--very funny ones--references to DART (our main transportation system), Terell Owens and Deep Ellum.

The show is great and the audience loved it! If you're in town, be sure to try to catch one of the last 3 performances! Either tonight at 7 (I believe), or one of the 2 shows tomorrow (at 2 and 7). You won't be disappointed!

[ashley0139]

Posted: 12/2/06 at 6:10pm

Thanks for the review. I can't remember her speech, but Logainne also did the "geez louise" instead in Atlanta.

[BwayTheatre11]

Posted: 12/2/06 at 6:18pm

I really enjoyed Jennifer Simard...and I am a big Lisa Howard fan.

[an87]

Posted: 12/2/06 at 8:41pm

i'm seeing the show for the first time in Seattle in a few weeks, and I really want to be a guest speller. does everyone that gets chosen have some sort of unique/funny thing about how they're dressed/look that night? or are some spellers just...normal?

[Parks]

Posted: 12/2/06 at 9:29pm

None of the spellers I saw in the 2 performances I went to were wearing anything out of the ordinary. They do pick on the outfits if they aren't...well put together, but don't try your hardest to look ridiculous.

[hermionejuliet]

Posted: 12/3/06 at 12:25am

I went to tonight's show. I'll write a full review tomorrow as I am going to tomorrow's show with a friend.

Tonight the spellers were hilarious. There was a woman in pastel pink and purple (total Martha Stewart look), and they said "Sarah (or whatever the name was) enjoys dying Easter eggs and her own clothes." In addition, they chose a young red-headed boy, and they introduced him by saying that "John won his school's Ron Weasely look alike contest." He received the easy word before Pandemonium and asked for the definition and a sentence for cow with a smile on his face. Very cute! However the audience member behind me was reciting the entire show was not! It was ridiculous!

[goofy108]

Posted: 12/3/06 at 12:58am

I'm going to try to see it tomorrow night. Jennifer Simard came to my school yesterday and I got to talk to her during my theatre class. She seems pretty cool and she told me everyone works really well together. I'm excited!

[snazzier]

Posted: 12/3/06 at 1:06am

About Logainne's rant... it's not always an anti-Bush speech (although that is often the case), but more of a current events thing. I was there during pride week and she talked about how Fathers' Day and Pride Week were within a week of each other and how stressful it was for her. It's always cute, and particularly funny if the audience knows its current events!

[crzyrocket]

Posted: 12/3/06 at 12:17pm

Just wondering...

If they change "Jesus Christ" to "Jeez Louise" then how does the audience react to that entire Jesus scene? Is it toned down at all? I would think that would be potentially more offensive.

[Parks]

Posted: 12/3/06 at 12:29pm

Why would the Jesus scene be offensive? If you're referring to the Jesus on the cross thing they did off-Broadway, now Jesus just comes out into where some box seats are and talks from there. There's nothing offensive in that scene.

Jesus: Well, didn't you ask for a harder word?
Marcy: Well...yeah, but now that you're here, can I ask you something else?
Jesus: Of course, my child. Estoy aqui para usted.
Marcy: Jesus, would you be mad at me if I didn't win today?
Jesus: Of course not. But also--I wouldn't be mad at you--if you won.
Marcy: So...you're saying it's up to me?
Jesus: Yes. And also, this isn't the kind of thing I care very much about.

...nothing too bad in there.

...is it sad that I can remember that?

[crzyrocket]

Posted: 12/3/06 at 2:30pm

I just checked the tour cast, and realized the actor playing Chip isn't Asian so I guess there's no "Jesus! I knew you were Asian!" like in Boston. I figured that part might offend some hard-core believers.

[LizzieCurry]

Posted: 12/3/06 at 2:52pm

I don't think it's the Asian part so much as the entire thing, really.

[JamesMacon]

Posted: 12/3/06 at 2:56pm

Thanks for the review. I loved the cleavage joke - haha!

[an87]

Posted: 12/3/06 at 4:57pm

do all of the tour stops have lotteries? i already have a ticket for one night, but i'm thinking i might want to go twice. wouldn't want to buy the second ticket if there was going to be a lotto...

[singingshowgirl]

Posted: 12/3/06 at 5:05pm

i think she said jesus christ in philadelphia....but i'm not 100 percent positive....her speech in philadelphia (this was right before the election) was all about comparing the pennsylvania candidates for US senate.....

[whatyouown223]

Posted: 12/3/06 at 5:09pm

When I saw it in Philly she said jeez louise.

[ashley0139]

Posted: 12/3/06 at 5:23pm

do all of the tour stops have lotteries?

I do not believe they had one in Atlanta.

[Parks]

Posted: 12/3/06 at 5:44pm

They do not have one in Dallas.

[GreenGirl22406]

Posted: 12/3/06 at 6:08pm

I just saw it in boston... now i wanna see the tour cast! but in boston, she did say "jesus christ", i think. correct me if i'm wrong...

[HumATune]

Posted: 12/3/06 at 6:21pm

I really liked Logainne's rant the second time I saw the show in San Francisco. "Poor Pluto!"

[Parks]

Posted: 12/3/06 at 6:31pm

Anyone going to the last show tonight?

[jaesdare]

Posted: 12/3/06 at 7:45pm

all of the logan's switch up their speeches, write their own and pass it on to the other ones. they all share.
also, they try to suit the show to each town, and try to determine whether some of the things will be offensive, hence "jeez louise".

[broadwayjavajunkie]

Posted: 12/3/06 at 9:31pm

I saw the matinee today and it was amazing. Sarah Stiles did say 'Jeez Louise!' and also appeared to only say 'damnit' in Pandemonium, so I wonder if it is a religious thing for her?

The cast was all very good. The little boy audience speller got one of the words that has only been written down once or something like that and spelled it correctly, much to the surprise of the cast, who burst out laughing. Jennifer Simard cracked up for a good 2 minutes.

Lots of T.O. jokes ("He didn't show, so I was definately T.O.-ed!") and a Kinky Friedman joke ("Logainne became the Secretary of Education under President Kinky Friedman").

Today was BC/EFA Day, so the cast was collecting money in the lobby. They were all very, very nice and funny.

[LizzieCurry]

Posted: 12/4/06 at 1:29pm

Wait, if she says "jeez louise," where's the logic in Jesus showing up?

[hermionejuliet]

Posted: 12/4/06 at 9:32pm

- Jennifer Simard – Rona. Spectacular. Beautiful voice, excellent quick wit. I really enjoyed watching during both performances. Parks, the hair didn’t bother me at all. It is exactly what an uppity real estate agent would wear! A perfect Rona


-Miguel Cervantes- Chip - I actually knew him from his local theatre days. The article stated that he was from Pleasant Grove, and I recognized that name right away! So fun. I really wish the show had been done in a smaller venue because his adlibs were so funny. He did a great job.


-Eric Peterson – Barfee- Barfee is never one of my favorite characters, but he brought an interesting take to the character. I didn’t really think he was that similar to Dan Folger. He seemed more of the strange science geek instead of just plain old weird (Dan Folger). I also completely believe that he and Olive could bond which makes the show more meaningful in my opinion.

-Katie Boren- Marcy Park- Really great! I was never a big Marcy fan, but Katie had an interesting take. You could tell that all of the tour cast had watched the national spelling bee and took on some of the mannerisms of the spellers. I really enjoyed “I Speak Six Languages”


Michael Zahler - Leaf Coneybear— Alright, I have to give Michael kudos. I am a major Jesse Tyler Ferguson fan. I thought no one could top Jesse’s Leaf. And no one can, so it was great that Michael took an original take on the role rather than follow in Jesse’s footsteps. Michael seemed to play Leaf with day dreamer demeanor which made his character little more realistic, but just as funny. I admit that Leaf is a well-written role because “I’m Not that Smart” still cracked me up.

-Alan H. Green - Mitch- Awesome voice! That’s all I have to say. I’ve always been a Mitch Mahoney fan!

-James Kall - Panch- Very funny. Interesting facial expressions.

-Sarah Stiles - Logainne Schwartzandgrubenierre—Awesome – I enjoyed Sarah Stiles a great deal as Logainne. In my opinion, she humanized this character. I could believe that she was under pressure and just wanted to be loved.


Lauren Worsham - Olive. Completely different than Celia, but wonderful. Gorgeous voice. She definitely seemed like the ignored, unsure 11 year old that she was playing. She did act much younger than Celia, but I felt that this was a trend with the tour cast in general. It seems that they all not only acted younger, but sang like children. I don’t really remember the Broadway casts having kid-like voices when I saw it in NY. Sometimes the music sounded like Charlie Brown because of the child-like vocals.


Overall, it is a really strong tour. The script and music hold their own without the OBC which is saying something for the show. I really love the OBC, but the good thing is that the tour cast brings a unique and interesting approach to the show. Unfortunately, the venue they played in is not small, and it did lose a bit of charm. It was better that closer you sat. For example, you couldn’t really tell that Chip picked out a Marigold Coneybear in the audience, but he did. It is small things like that that made the Broadway show such a great experience! I would definitely see this tour and show again. I'm so glad it made it to Dallas!

Edited to add: Marcy says "Dear Jesus, can't you give me a harder word." So that part still makes sense with Geez Louise.

Also, the guy at the merchandise stand said that the OBC is rumored to be reuniting in LA for a couple of months this summer. Thought some of you might be interested in that tidbit.

Updated On: 12/4/06 at 09:32 PM