The Sydney Theatre Company’s production of the MTC’s production of ’25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee’ was an engaging, feel good night in the theatre.

The play is much in the tradition of the brilliant American documentary ‘Spellbound’. ‘Spelling Bee’ featured six socially challenged, philiologically industrious twelve year olds battling for glory: to be the sole survivor in the local spelling competition.

The play’s greatest strength lay in the strong characters and performances. Two of our finest actors played the comperes of the competition. Marina Prior played Rona Lisa Peretti, a women sugary sweet on the outside, but inside quite hard nosed. Tyler Coppin played the quirky, officious Vice Principal, Douglas Panch.

Then there were the competitors, all rich characters in their own right. The delightful Magda Szubanski seemed to relish playing William Barfee who spells words with his feet first. Christine Leary played the ubiquitously named Logainne Schwartzandgrubeniere, a woman burdened with a lisp and a surname made up from joining both her gay dad’s names together.
Lisa McCune played Olive Ostrovsky who neglected by her parents, turned to dictionary for solace. Jamie McGregor played the cocky reigning Putnam champ, and lastly there was Tim Wright who played Leaf Coneybear whose unfortunate ailment was that she was a chronic blusher!

One of Australia’s leading musical theatre directors Simon Phillips took command in one of his finest productions. His creative team included choreographer Ross Coleman, designer Dale Ferguson and lighting designer, Matt Scott.