Review: Johnson County Sun

Area stages feature musicals for all ages, tastes
By Russ Simmons
Sun Publications
Wednesday July 21, 2010

To its credit, the American Heartland Theatre always strives to bring fresh, unfamiliar plays to local audiences.

Sometimes the material selected by the staff doesn’t reach the same high standard they set in every other aspect of their productions.

Happily, the musical comedy "The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee" proves to be a great match for the theater. It’s got a funny, smart and inventive script that allows the venerable Crown Center theater company to present itself at its very best.

This wildly entertaining show is about a small town spelling bee that shines a spotlight on the strengths and foibles of six awkward adolescents, played beautifully by Price Messick, Olivia Marsh, Adam Branson, Michael Dragen, Jamie Lin and Lauren Braton.

The contest is officiated by the vice principal (Ken Remmert) and a local real estate agent (Coleen Grate). An imposing figure doing community service (Jermaine Blackwell) keeps everyone in line.

While the competitors are mostly nerds and social outcasts, Rachel Sheinkin’s observant script doesn’t hold them up for ridicule. It’s very funny, but also quite empathetic.

Plus, the music and lyrics by William Finn have just the right lighthearted bounce to mesh with Sheinkin’s book. The cast, along with pianist Anthony T. Edwards and drummer Tod Barnard, deliver the tunes splendidly.

Director/choreographer Steven Eubank infuses the show with plenty of kinetic energy, and he makes good use of the inventive set by Paul Hough and Shane Rowse.

The witty show is a bit edgier than some of the Heartland’s other offerings. One number deals comically with a common embarrassment shared by many adolescent males.

But the show dares to be touching, too. Braton plays a young woman whose parents fail to show up for the contest. Her number "The I Love You Song" provides a surprisingly moving moment.

Some audience members are recruited for each show to participate as contestants in the bee. While this is little more than a gimmick, it can provide some spontaneous moments of hilarity.

The correct spelling for the latest AHT entry would be "h-i-t."

"The 25th Annual Putman County Spelling Bee" runs through Aug. 22 at the American Heartland Theatre, 2450 Grand, Kansas City, Mo. For information, call (816) 842-9999 or visit www.ahtkc.com.

Here is a link to the review at Sun Publications!