Taft’s thespians have done it again! The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee is a performance somewhat reminiscent (there’s a “syzygy” between the two, if you will) of last year’s spectacle Matilda — with its talk of troubled children, solemnity that’s relieved by hilarious comedy, and a Miss Honey-esque figure — though it is truly one-of-a-kind. At the time that I am writing this article, I have not yet seen an official show but rather only a dress rehearsal. But what I watched was so well-coordinated that I forgot it was just a rehearsal, except for when I reminded myself that I was the only audience member. One person’s applause can only be so riotous, but my enthusiasm was through the roof.
The Spelling Bee is a compelling amalgamation of different styles of music and comedy, and just the right amount of edgy vulgarity. It features a cast of odd and endearing young characters who attend a contentious spelling bee with a savings bond, a trophy, and bragging rights all on the line; they include a sickly boy with a magic foot that helps him spell, a charismatic underdog with absentee parents, and an elegant principal with an eccentric flair. Every kid experiences either pressure from their parents to succeed, or self-inflicted expectations because they hope they will impress their families.
My favorite number was “Pandemonium”, in which the kids express their grievances about the competition but also about their home lives. There were countless other standout performances, solos especially. Elle Smiley ‘25 “I Love You Song” is incredibly touching; Elle is the perfect Olive Ostrovsky, gentle and self-assured despite her misgivings about her future. Tania Muangman ‘25, the production’s only other senior, delivers a wonderful performance as Marcy Park, uptight but with a cathartic character development at the end, and she handles this shift skillfully. Among the juniors are Jabari King as the energetic but unfortunate Chip Tolentino who embarrasses himself onstage, Daniel Kaminju as the spacey and whimsical Leaf Coneybear who makes his own clothes, and Isaac Obeng as Olive’s love interest and primary competition. And what would this play be without Anny Qian ‘27 in the role of Loghainne, the quirky daughter of two doting dads, with an incredible solo about having her hobbies and interests forced on her, a lesson in overachieving?
I was impressed by the swift changes of tone and character for the little vignettes or flashbacks that are used to provide backstory. Isaac and Daniel seamlessly transitioned into the roles of Loghainne’s dads, and just as easily became their previous characters again. If you sat next to someone familiar with the play like I did, you’ll have appreciated all of the pithy impromptu lines that the actors came up with on the spot. Additionally, while the musical is already very relevant, the jokes that were written in as references to pop culture made it even more thrilling. Mentions of the Kentucky Derby or the recently concluded conclave keep the audience at the edge of their seats. Kudos to whoever wrote all this in, as everyone found it very clever! There is also a great deal of interactive details. Guest spellers were called by name, often with personalized introductions that I’ve been told were written by Jess Heine ‘26, who also played the empathetic principal, Ms. Peretti. And the music from the orchestra conducted by Mr. Thompson was spectacular, as were the dancers who appeared in various costumes throughout the show.
The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee was marvelous; everything came to life vividly on that stage. The work that the whole crew put into a very congruous show was evident, and the excitement and anticipation among the audience was palpable. And the play’s messages could not have been more relevant; I left Bingham humming some of the tunes, and also considering the ways in which I saw each of these characters in my daily life. If you didn’t get a chance to see it, you missed out!