Spelling Bee in Memphis

[broadwaytourist]

Posted: 4/27/08 at 1:11pm

I saw Spelling Bee last Tuesday night and loved it. I had never seen it in NYC so I enjoyed the novelty of the book and the songs. I thought it captured some of the angst of growing up so perfectly - I have a 12 year old kid - and while he's no spelling bee champ, I think he might be growing into a spelling bee contestant - just a little out of the ordinary - While that's great by me, I know his life in middle school is going to be difficult. - Anyway, on with the show - Andrew Kennan-Bolger was quite fun as Mr. Coneybear - he got that goofiness down without really overacting it (He got a scattering of applause when he got his first solo lines - so I'm glad to see someone in Memphis knows who is who in theatre) - There was an understudy on for William Barfee - sorry I don't have my Playbook- its at the office - but this guy was perfect with his physical ailment and his belief in his "magic foot." He was so funny - I really was impressed with the young aldy who played Olive - wonderfully strong voice and conveyed the poignancy of her life with great reserved emotion.

Overall, it was a really fun night with a great cast, and I aprpeciate this level of talent in a touring show!
Updated On: 4/27/08 at 01:11 PM

[LizzieCurry]

Posted: 4/27/08 at 1:14pm

Was this supposed to be in bullet points?

[broadwaytourist]

Posted: 4/27/08 at 1:19pm

Does it matter? Is there a rule? I have an undergraduate degree in English, and I write for a living, but I didn't think that my writing structure would be criticized here. Isn't that what "All That Chat" is for? I just wanted to express my appreciation to the cast of the Touring Spelling Bee if any read this board.

[lakezurich]

Posted: 4/27/08 at 1:37pm

All of the random "-"s is a little unnerving to say the least. Especially if you have an undergraduate degree in English.

Updated On: 4/27/08 at 01:37 PM

[TonyVincent]

Posted: 4/27/08 at 1:47pm

First, this isn't ATC. Second, what's so hard about using proper punctuation? Did you use dashes just so you could defend your right to use them?

I wasn't going to say anything until you went all apes--- on your right to use them.

Glad you enjoyed the show. It is one of my favorite productions--I'm disappointed I didn't discover it until a week before it closed on B-way.

[broadwaytourist]

Posted: 4/27/08 at 4:10pm

Unnerving? Apes__t? Wow!! I did not know I could affect people so just because I chose to use casual, even if improper, punctuation in a casual, if not meaningless, message board.

[Steve2]

Posted: 4/27/08 at 4:19pm

broadwaytourist, thanks for your comments. I just saw the tour in Des Moines and had seen it on Broadway. The tour cast was very excellent and they ad-libbed well (Like when one of the spellers forgot to request a sentence!) I liked how they updated with the new dialog like "little Miss Pelosi" and "Condi Rice and John McCain", and some of the local references.

Ignore LizzieCurry, she never has ANYTHING constructive to say, only things she thinks are "witty".

[LizzieCurry]

Posted: 4/27/08 at 4:20pm

It's so meaningless, in fact, that you decided to post on it!

[broadwaytourist]

Posted: 4/27/08 at 4:36pm

Thanks for commenting, Steve. Here in Memphis we have plenty of political follies to fuel parody, and Spelling Bee took great advantage of it. It reminded me of Joseph that way.

[lakezurich]

Posted: 4/27/08 at 5:02pm

Oh Snap! I think Lizzie got 'ya there.

[broadwaytourist]

Posted: 4/27/08 at 6:27pm

No, not really. I enjoy many meaningless things - like sports, surfing the net, reading blogs, keeping up with Broadway stuff when I live in Memphis and only get to NYC once a year, using incorrect punctuation in a bit of drivel, daydreaming, and other useless stuff.

vs. the meaningful things in my life - appreciating art and those who can provide it, rearing a 12 year old boy, staying married to the same person 17 years, supporting my parents, enjoying nature, and using correct grammar and punctuation in my professional life.

I get plenty of criticism in the areas of my life that mean something to me, but I just wasn't expecting criticism over something so trivial. Oh well.


Updated On: 4/27/08 at 06:27 PM

[SpellingBeeFan4Ever]

Posted: 4/27/08 at 6:33pm

Maybe you shouldn't sleep in a broadway show.

[lakezurich]

Posted: 4/27/08 at 8:40pm

Oh, that was just so touching... I think I need a tissue.

[Someday]

Posted: 4/27/08 at 9:55pm

This thread is a bit disgusting. Broadwaytourist, you're welcome here any time. I'm sorry to see we're capable of such low levels of discourse that infrequent posters or people from out of town feel a need to defend the actual meaning in their lives after posting here. Geeze!

For what it's worth, BT, I am glad to hear that you have a life—what sounds like a very nice one. And thank you for your comment about the Spelling Bee tour. Good to hear it's holding up well and incorporating local references to positive effect.

As for the petulance on this thread toward an outsider, the appropriate term for it is bullying. If the bullies among us don't want those from 'the provinces' posting here with their incorrectly formatted hyphens (heaven forfend!), I can't help ya'. I can speak for myself. I really appreciate hearing how shows are received when they tour or pop up regionally. So, I wish you'd cut these folks a little slack.

And regardless of the locals-versus-outsiders issue, I've never been a fan of those who use the BWW message boards to chastise people about grammar, spelling, or—for heaven's sake—formatting. It's one thing if you legitimately can't understand what someone is saying. Clearly that wasn't the case here (nor is it in most instances of grammar policing on this site). I mean, aren't there boards somewhere else where you people can go to demonstrate your enthralling mastery of online formatting and the English language? Surely....

[LizzieCurry]

Posted: 4/27/08 at 9:57pm

An outsider? The OP has been on BWW for a year. That doesn't say "outsider" to me.

[Someday]

Posted: 4/27/08 at 10:02pm

I'm sorry, but "Memphis" says outsider to me.

[LizzieCurry]

Posted: 4/27/08 at 10:03pm

Now you're just being New York elitist.

[lakezurich]

Posted: 4/27/08 at 10:04pm

I thought this was a grammar board...

[LizzieCurry]

Posted: 4/27/08 at 10:04pm

It's a free-for-all!

[Someday]

Posted: 4/27/08 at 10:06pm

Yup, that's me—the New York elitist. haha

[LizzieCurry]

Posted: 4/27/08 at 10:07pm

OK, you be the geographical elitist and I'll be the grammar elitist. Deal?

[Colle]

Posted: 4/28/08 at 3:08pm

I wanted to go see Spelling Bee when it was in Memphis, but I wasn't able to. Broadwaytourist, what were some of the local jokes? I knew they would have a field day with the politics.

[broadwaytourist]

Posted: 4/28/08 at 4:42pm

1. They made a comment about Willie Herrington as mayor and the "would he resign or would he not" issue.

2. They identified local schools for the kids to be students like Southwind.

Of course, now I can't remember them, but the Willie joke got a big laugh.