Gale, who also choreographs, utilizes every inch of Dan Van Why’s deceptively simple set; characters are taken up and discarded as actors race to and from the wings—they hang from scaffolding and swing from the ceiling, yet always find their ways back to the upstage bleachers, impatiently awaiting their next crack at spelling glory. Robin Schwartz’s costumes fit their characters like second skins, and props designer Angela Hagans scores laughs with Olive’s oversized dictionary and a giant flagpole wielded phallically by Mitch. Andrew Haig’s lighting and Ben Walsh’s sound design are similarly spot-on.
Despite its small size, the pit band—conducted by music director Aaron Broderick and featuring Tiffany Underwood on the keyboard and Dane Krisch on drums—does justice to Finn’s witty score. My one complaint is that Finn—perhaps best known for the Tony Award-winning musical Falsettos—could not write a better song for Olive to sing to her parents; what should be the most poignant moment in the show sounds too much like generic pop.
Over the past year I have seen several shows by the Red Branch Theatre Company, and each time I have walked away more impressed with the quality of their work. One of the most consistently excellent theaters in the region is located in a nondescript business park off Route 100. The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee is another reason, if you haven’t done so already, to put Red Branch on your map.
The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee is playing at the Drama Learning Center, located at 9130-I Red Branch Road in Columbia, on Fridays and Saturdays at 8 PM and Sundays at 3 PM, through May 1st. There is also a performance on Thursday, April 29, at 8 PM. Tickets are $14-$18. For more information or to purchase tickets, call 410-998-9352 or go to www.redbranchtheatre.com.
