The musical takes place in real time during one spelling bee, with six kids who are over-the-top characters. Rounding out the contestants are a few recruits from the audience, which provides some fun opportunities for improv - you never know what will happen when you invite the audience up on stage! Former champion Rona Lisa Perretti (Lexi Harper) is hosting this year's bee with Vice Principal Panch (Rick Wyman), while tough but tender Mitch Maloney (Daniel Vinitsky) acts as "comfort counselor" to fulfill his community service requirement. The oddball kids include past champion Chip (Matt Berdahl), overachiever Marcy (Alison Rigazio), flighty Leaf (Kyle Szarzynski), neglected Olive (Anna Larranaga), pressured Logainne (Callie Schroer), and nasally challenged William Barfee (Tim Beeckman Davis). In between spelling words, we learn a little about each kid's life and family through flashbacks and fantasy sequences. One by one, Mitch escorts them off stage with a hug and a juice box when they hear the bell that indicates they've misspelled a word. Though very different, a love for words and a need to be loved and accepting bind the kids together.
The funniest parts of the show are the contestant introductions and the sentences used to describe the words. This is my 6th time attending the Bee (on Broadway, on tour, and a few local productions), and while some of the jokes are less funny when you know what's coming, the audience interaction allows for some room to play. Director Zach Curtis and team seem to have added in some new bits, or perhaps the script has some leeway in that area, so there were still plenty of new and surprising jokes that had me laughing out loud repeatedly. As Rona and VP Panch, Lexi and Rick keep the bee running smoothly, and the six actors playing the kids are all adorable and playful. However, it's noteworthy that the role of Marcy Park is not played by an Asian-American actress, as it traditionally is. Lyric Arts has been steadily improving over the last few years, and the next thing they need to work on to continue to the next level is increasing the diversity on stage (and in the audience).
The cast is accompanied on these clever and catchy songs by a one-person band, Music Director Elise Beckel Santa, which seems perfectly appropriate for this small scale musical. Shannan Roberg's choreography keeps the kids moving around the stage and over the bleachers and desk, and even manages to incorporate the audience volunteers.
Spelling Bee is a fun and charming show, not without moments of poignancy about that tough middle school age that will likely bring back memories both good and bad. In the director's note, Zach suggests "Embrace your inner misfit. And please enjoy the show." Watching these awkward, adorable, sweetly odd kids as they strive towards their goal and learn a few things about life, family, and friendship along the way is quite enjoyable (playing through January 31).