I’ve loved The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee for many years. Growing up a dedicated musical theater fan, as well as exactly the kind of kid who literally participated in spelling bees, Putnam is exactly the kind of niche property I latched onto throughout high school and college. Even with all that in mind, walking into Issaquah’s Village Theater, I knew this performance was going to be special.
First off: scenic design, led by Julia Hayes Welch- wow. Stepping into the theater you’re hit with a stunning recreation of a mundane school gym. Offsetting this mundanity is the set’s vibrant coloring, sharp lines, and slightly skewed perspective; it’s like a cartoon come to life. And that beautifully compliments the story of Putnam. Within Welch’s, and Director Brandon Ivie’s, comically set space, each characters’ motivations and humorous attitudes are slowly explored and deepened, culminating in victory for one of the six.
These are wonderful characters on the page. From the Dwight Schrute-resembling William Barfee to the deadpan Marcy Park, Putnam packs itself with personality. But they would be nothing without committed performances, and the whole cast delivers. Half the fun of the earliest moments of Putnam, which invites four audience members to “compete” and is less dramatically forward than the second act, is just watching the physical performances of the ensemble. It’s clear very early on how fully Arika Matoba channels Marcy’s cold, stone-faced focus, or Justin Huertas conveys jock Chip Tolentino’s braggadocio and impatience through simple, invested body language.
The musical numbers are similarly thought through. The highlight for me was “Magic Foot,” which invites the whole ensemble into a couple of very cleverly choreographed beats. Choreographer Trina Mills excellently utilizes the limits a constricted stage through each number.
Issaquah Village Theater’s 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee is a clear act of love and attention from all involved, and a pure blast to watch because of it.
Putnam is running now through October 20th. For tickets and more information, go to https://villagetheatre.org/issaquah/spelling-bee.php.