Have you ever gone to see a show that's totally exceeded all your expectations? That was the exact feeling I had when Mad Props Theatre's production of The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee ended.
Dust off your dictionary and be prepared to jump into the world of 6 strange yet quirky school kids competing for their chance to win a school spelling competition, and realising along the way that winning may not be everything. At first glance these misfits seem like stereotypical American kids, but as each contestant takes the mic we see all their insecurities and secrets unfold.
From the get go I could tell this wasn't going to be like any other show. The cast (in character) were approaching members of the audience to go on stage and spell with them. This added a really personal touch to the night and allowed for some really funny improv.
From William Barfée and his spelling foot, to Logainne SchwartzGrubenierre and her overbearing parents, this talented cast smashed each role. Fantastic vocals, vibrant choreography and superb acting make this production a recipe for success.
The set was minimal but effective, allowing the focus to be on the cast while still clearly depicting a spelling bee set up.
This show is sharp, witty and downright hilarious. The cast are first class, so much so that I find it hard to pick a stand out performance. Mad Props have another show coming this year (Avenue Q) and if it's anything like this show, it'll be a must see.
No comments:
Post a Comment