It can be a strange form of intellectual entertainment. 

The contestants range from excitable to anxious to charismatic while braving through the pressure to succeed.  With spell check just a click away, knowing how to spell complex words such as Xanthosis, Autochthonous, or Logorrhea almost seems like an archaic practice.  However, Scripps National Spelling Bees are seen all over the world and like any competition, plenty of drama is happening behind the scenes. 

Smoothly directed and choreographed by Margaret McFadden with John Eldridge’s witty music direction, The Hive Theatre Company dives into an interesting match of wits with the award-winning musical comedy, The 25^th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee continuing live and in person through Sunday, February 1 at BCA Plaza Theatre at Boston Center for the Arts in Boston, Massachusetts.  This semi-interactive production runs 1 hour and 45 minutes with one intermission and contains some adult humor.  Click here for more information and for tickets.

Based on a book by Rachel Sheinkin and William Finn and featuring playful and insightful songs from its Grammy award-nominated album such as I’m Not That Smart, Pandemonium, and I Speak Six Languages, The 25^th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee explores the lives of quirky and feverishly ambitious Putnam Valley Middle School students who are not only striving to win the bee, but to find their place in the world.

Featuring a live four piece band in the background, the BCA Plaza Theatre offers a fitting scholastic vibe for a spelling bee.  Kevin Deane Parker’s modestly staged set features a blue school door, colorful metal chairs and auditorium seating.  No spelling bee should be without a sponsor and Putnam Optometrists have stepped in with a humorous slogan across the judge’s table.  Samantha Wolfrum’s wild and eccentrically charming costumes illustrate each character’s distinctive qualities.

Before addressing each one of the improvisational wizards that compete in Hive Theatre Company’s production of The 25^th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, it is important to note that the audience plays their own part in the bee.  This small cast makes a big impression, and this zany musical comedy tests the audience’s knowledge as four lucky guest volunteer spellers have the honor of taking the stage to compete with the cast.  It is an amazing experience to be a guest speller as the cast keeps them on their toes all in good fun. 

If offered this opportunity, do not let fear and the unknown override a wonderful chance to join in the excitement of the bee along with the outside possibility of getting serenaded by some real talent.  The interactive antics are just part of what makes this improvisational musical comedy unique and doused in a bit of the “reality show” flavor.  Each performance of The 25^th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee leaves its own individual and lasting impression.

From caricature voices to bizarre antics, this spelling bee cast leans into and emphasizes character quirks much more than endearing qualities than other version I have seen while relishing in their own various idiosyncrasies.  To these students, spelling can be ruthless and punishing and are certainly feeling the pressure.  Full of anxiety and neurotic awkwardness, each adolescent has their own humorous ways of coping to achieve a win paired with the difficulties of growing up.  Learning each speller’s story and why they are participating in the Putnam County Spelling Bee (and needs a win) can be insightful, comical, and moving.

Running the Bee is Amanda Wade as Rona Lisa Peretti, former winner of Putnam’s Spelling Bee.  Peppy, orderly, and with polished vocals, Wade doles out fun facts about the contestants with palpable enthusiasm especially during the excitable number, Rona Moment #1.  She and Josh Telepman as Vice Principal Douglas Panch are responsible for quite a few clever one liners during the show, feeding off each other’s varied personalities. 

Salvatore Guillermo Garcia is impressive as intense, firm, but sensitive Mitch Mahoney who hands out cure-all juice boxes to eliminated contestants as he supervises the competition.

Outlandish and peculiar, the remarkable spellers play well off each other and boast particular chemistry and harmony during the numbers, Pandemonium, My Friend, the Dictionary, and Magic Foot which fittingly features a kick line.  Maya Gapalswamy as Olive and Kayden Mays as William display some awkwardly cute chemistry.  Gapalswamy as hesitant and sweet Olive Ostrovsky is also sympathetic in a stirring rendition of The I Love You Song with Amanda Wade and Salvatore Guillermo Garcia.  Anna Wright as Logainne Schwartzandgrubenniere, an anxiously outspoken bright-eyed girl in braids with a lisp forlornly laments Whoa is Me and Alex Kennedy is memorable as Leaf Coneybear, an intense, wildly dressed savant in a cape and bow tie while Cameron Nye has more than spelling on his mind as shy and daydreaming Chip Tolentino.  Ashley Ha is ironically charismatic as socially awkward and rigid perfectionist Marcy Park especially for the athletic number, I Speak Six Languages.

In a tricky environment where so much rides on improvisation, the cast navigates their characters while gliding through any challenging circumstances.  The show inserts a few interesting pop references and contemporary issues into this timeless musical comedy.  Some elevate the comedy while others seem out of place.  Overall, The Hive Theatre Company’s musical comedy, The 25^th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee is a clever and original musical production that may just leave the audience feeling a little smarter.

The Hive Theatre Company continues musical comedy, The 25^th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee continuing live and in person through Sunday, February 1 at BCA Plaza Theatre at Boston Center for the Arts in Boston, Massachusetts.  Click here for more information and for tickets.