The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee Reviews- Page 2

[Plum]

Posted: 5/2/05 at 6:58pm

This show needs a set design nomination. It could squeeze in there with Piazza and the like, couldn't it?

[GovernorSlaton]

Posted: 5/2/05 at 6:59pm

I hope so -- the set is fantastic.

[MargoChanning]

Posted: 5/2/05 at 7:00pm

I'm guessing that there are some Tony voters out there who still feel burned by the lack of a AVENUE Q tour and are going to take that frustration out on SPELLING BEE this year. Many of those who "voted their hearts" last year will be voting their wallets this one and I'm guessing that SPAMALOT will win Best Musical.

[Plum]

Posted: 5/2/05 at 7:01pm

AAAH! If they're so disappointed by the lack of a tour, they were still voting their wallets. They deserved to get get burned for it.

[MargoChanning]

Posted: 5/2/05 at 7:05pm

I think SPELLING BEE may be too low budget to pick up a set design award, especially when the competition for the four slots will be CHITTY, PIAZZA, SPAMALOT (all are probably locks) with DRS, LITTLE WOMEN, LA CAGE, CHARITY, PACIFIC OVERTURES fighting for the last spot.

Updated On: 5/2/05 at 07:05 PM

[leomaxfrank]

Posted: 5/2/05 at 7:05pm

That's totally depressing

[BobbyBubby]

Posted: 5/2/05 at 7:05pm

The Tonys are dividing the set designs between play and musical this year right?

[rent1988]

Posted: 5/2/05 at 7:06pm

ah if spamalot wins...

[GovernorSlaton]

Posted: 5/2/05 at 7:06pm

Yes, BB.

[leomaxfrank]

Posted: 5/2/05 at 7:07pm

Pacific Overtures was beautifully designed.

[MargoChanning]

Posted: 5/2/05 at 7:10pm

I thought PACIFIC OVERTURES was brilliant on many different levels. I hope it's not completely forgotten come Tony time and gets more than just the obligatory Revival nod.

Updated On: 5/2/05 at 07:10 PM

[Plum]

Posted: 5/2/05 at 7:12pm

I did like the Pacific Overtures design. But I swear, walking into Spelling Bee was like walking into a stylized version of every public school gym ever. The athletic banners, the bleachers, the wood flooring- it was all comically spot-on.

[leomaxfrank]

Posted: 5/2/05 at 7:14pm

agreed Margo - although I haven't seen Charity yet (don't know if I'll bother), in a just world Pacific Overtures would win Best Revival. I thought it was glorious.

Updated On: 5/2/05 at 07:14 PM

[GovernorSlaton]

Posted: 5/2/05 at 7:15pm

Pacific Overtures was beautiful -- that wood design with the water surrounding complemented the revival's tone magnificently.

[MasterLcZ]

Posted: 5/2/05 at 7:22pm

I wouldn't quite rule out PACIFIC OVERTURES quite yet.

(and my gut tells me SCOUNDRES will win the Tony over SPAMALOT)

[RadioTV2]

Posted: 5/2/05 at 7:27pm

Variety Review, and it seems very positive to me.

"It's hard to imagine sweeter vindication for all the brainiac pariahs doomed throughout their school years to nerd status than "The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee." And it's especially sweet that William Finn's delightful musical about the awkward path to adulthood has negotiated the transition to Broadway with all its modesty and charms intact. In fact, rather than interpret the move from Off Broadway as a mandate to pump up the size and slickness, the show's creatives have shrewdly nurtured its low-tech, idiosyncratic spirit in refreshing ways, making resourceful use of their new home at Circle in the Square."

" well-knit ensemble that knows just how to find the human foibles of their cartoonish characters and to play off each other with affectionate ease, the cast from Second Stage remains unchanged. And as the bee's adult supervisors, Lisa Howard and Jay Reiss manage the remarkable feat of staying in character while clearly having an infectiously good time shepherding the show's audience participants.

Howard even made note at the press night attended of Circle in the Square's location next door to the Gershwin, introducing one recruit wearing a green jacket with: "Miss Skidmore just came in from the Emerald City over at 'Wicked.' " That "Spelling Bee" has succeeded not only in maintaining but even amplifying its spontaneity despite the increased commercial stakes of a Broadway move reflects the freshness of this big-hearted little show."

Variety Review

[Benzy92]

Posted: 5/2/05 at 7:38pm

seems like a rave to me :)



YAAAAAAAAAY!


I'm upset that the critics aren't really singling out incredible performances such as Celia and Dan, but rather focusing on the amazing ensemble as a whole, which is true also!

[apdarcey]

Posted: 5/2/05 at 7:51pm

first let me say i am so happy for this show and hope it succeeds on many levels!
second, it's shows like this, and the wonderful cagelles this season that wish we could somehow recognize ensemble work. i know there was a special tony for the principal cast of la boheme 2 years ago, but i really would like to see groups like this rewarded for all their hard work!

[magruder]

Posted: 5/2/05 at 8:11pm

Isherwood reviewed Spelling Bee Off-Broadway, and the Times usually lets the critic who first endorsed the show re-review it on Broadway, though there have been exceptions to that rule. Still, I'm expecting the Times review to be by Isherwood.

[apdarcey]

Posted: 5/2/05 at 8:13pm

i would be surprised if brantley didn't come out for this one with all its hype.

[Princeton78]

Posted: 5/2/05 at 8:19pm

I thought Brantley was definately doing it..hmmm...

[magruder]

Posted: 5/2/05 at 8:24pm

Brantley very well might be reviewing. I don't know for a fact that he's NOT doing the Spelling Bee review. Just that they usually let the first voice on a production follow through on the transfer.

[bwayaddict]

Posted: 5/2/05 at 8:28pm

Regretfully I too happened to be in New York during Bee's transfer from Off-Broadway to Broadway and am so tempted to make a quick trip back to New York sometime this summer just to see it. I'm tempted to but a ticket before Tony time just in case it does win and then is sold out forever. I did get to see Celia Keenan-Bolger at the reading of The Unauthorized Biography of Sara Brown along with Michael Arden. They were both fantastic. Since I'm from Michigan and I know some people she knows I talked to her afterward and she was very nice. I so wish I lived closer.

[magruder]

Posted: 5/2/05 at 8:30pm

And as per the Times website, Spelling Bee is listed as a Charles Isherwood Critic's Pick. I don't recall that it was there prior to today.
NY Times Theater Page

[leomaxfrank]

Posted: 5/2/05 at 9:37pm

magruder - I think it was there before, but I could be wrong.

any others up yet?