Bedfordtimesregister.com - 'Spelling Bee' buzzes along with light-hearted fun

by April Helms

Special Products Editor

Ah, to be a teen again. Fighting acne. Wondering if boys were cool, or if they had cooties. The hormones and mood swings. Wondering where you fit in life.

On second thought ...

Porthouse Theatre's production of "The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee" offers a glimpse in the lives of six especially smart and especially quirky adolescents who are competing for bragging rights as the county's top speller, with a chance to go to the national Bee. There's William Barfee (played by Dane Castle), a Bee finalist last year who had to drop out due to an allergic reaction to peanuts, who is socially clumsy and even abrasive. Leaf Coneybear (played by Danny Lindenberger), is almost the opposite -- mellow and dreamy -- and got into the county Bee by chance. Marcy Park (played by Rumi Oyama) is the stereotypical overachiever who, as the contest progresses, begins to question her need to always be first. Logainne Schwartzandgrubenniere (played by Cassie Rea) is the youngest contestant and already politically active; she faces pressure from her two fathers, one whom especially seems bent on her succeeding at all costs. Sweet Olive Ostrovsky (played by Maren Ritter) is hoping her father, who works late, can come see her compete, and misses her mother who is on a retreat in India. Chip Tolentino (played by Eric Tsuchiyama) is the winner of last year's county Bee and hopes to make it two in a row -- but first he has to get over the perils of puberty.

They are assisted by an equally eccentric trio of adults who are trying to keep things in order while dealing with their own pasts. Rona Lisa Peretti (played by Sandra Emerick) is a previous Spelling Bee Champ who relishes her role as moderator and waxes rhapsodic about her favorite moments in the contest. Vice Principal Panch (played by Marc Moritz) is the judge and word pronouncer, a role he had in previous years. His examples of using the spelling words in a sentence are bizarre at the least, and provide some of the biggest laughs in the show. Mitch Mahoney (played by Jason Samuel) is serving as the "comfort counselor" as part of his community service, giving out juice boxes and hugs to the losing students.

There aren't too many serious moments in this show, which runs at just under two hours. "Spelling Bee" is best left to teens and adults; there are some jokes and songs that are suggestive (such as Chip's laments about a particular problem with puberty that hits at an inopportune time after he fantasizes about a girl in the audience).

Guest spellers

Porthouse is offering walk-on role opportunities for people in "Spelling Bee" at each show. A spot -- there are four available per show -- can be obtained for $100 to be one of the audience spellers in the show.

Call 330-672-3884 for details. First come, first serve on each of the dates available.

Tickets and information

"The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee" runs through June 26.

Subscriptions are currently on sale. Prices range for Tuesday through Friday night at $51 for seniors and $60 for adults; Saturday night $66 for adults and seniors; Sunday matinee $51 for seniors and $57 for adults. Gift subscriptions also are available. The box office accepts personal checks, Visa, MasterCard and Discover. Special rates for groups of 20 or more are available, as are student rates.

Call 330-672-3884 or visit www.porthousetheatre.com for details. Single ticketsrange from $25 to $33 for adults and seniors, and $17 to $20 for students. The box office is in the Music and Speech Center on the corner of Main Street and Horning Drive at Kent State University in Kent.

Porthouse Theater is near Blossom Music Center, near Steels Corners Road, in Cuyahoga Falls. For details, visit www.porthousetheatre.com.