A Review of the Eglesfield Musical The 25th Annual Putnum County Spelling Bee

When you hear that the Queens College Eglesfield society has plans for an outdoor performance, I think that an easy assumption to make would be that this performance will include some well known faces from across the Oxford Drama scene and that it will be a musical. In the case of The 25th Annual Putnum County Spelling Bee both of these assumptions are perfectly accurate. It is perhaps an odd concept that a musical about a spelling bee exists and I am certainly curious to know how the original playwright developed the idea; however, surrounded by the architecture of a university that endlessly encourages effort and perfection in its students it is oddly apt. With songs and dances not only about the spelling of words but also about the pressures placed upon children by their families, it is a light hearted musical that delves beneath the surface – as all good stories do.

The first thing to note is that this is not in any way a dull interpretation of a slightly repetitive competition. While the musical begins with the actual spelling of words, it quickly progresses from county spelling bee into a full blown musical. Honestly, I did not know that what I was missing in my life was songs about spelling! As the sky began to darken and the lights became more vivid, there was also the sense that the slightly chaotic atmosphere upon the stage was becoming more intense. While a dress run is not always the best environment for trying to judge the full vision for a performance, I was particularly a fan of the array of coloured lighting. Said lighting was utilised to indicate different stages of the play, including flashbacks into the past of the different characters. These segues were perfectly orchestrated, not at all breaking the flow of the performance despite the use of multi-rolling. There was the sense that the cast were truly having fun playing both the parents and family of the contestants and the unusual collection of misfits participating.

From William Barfee’s magic foot to Leaf Coneybear’s appearing possessed there were quite the array of entertaining spelling methods on display in this show. While I will discuss the cast in a moment, it must be first noted that there is an element of audience participation. The creative team may not have made this public knowledge and may not forgive me for giving you a heads up; however, there are some spellers selected from the audience at the beginning of the competition. This breaking of the fourth wall is one of a few occurrences and while I am not always a fan, I felt that it worked perfectly in the context of the play. There was an added sense of reality, for there was an unpredictability as to how long they would stay in the competition. Equally, the placement of the judges upon a small stage closer to the audience and the obvious add-libbing of jokes helped the musical to feel spontaneous and brought the audience into the action. While on the topic of the judges, both were truly hilarious in their own ways and certainly over invested in the competition. Jake Dann’s Vice Principal Panch and Tess Klygis’ Rona are less of a comedy duo as two comedy acts competing for dominance – who wins? Well, I think I will leave that for you to decide (I would hate to spoil the ending). Under the scrutiny of perhaps the most dysfunctional judging panel that you are likely to have ever seen, were a group of children fighting it out for a bee cuddly toy. Each actor embraced the unique personality wonderfully, ensuring that none were merely background characters. From Luke Nixon’s lunch box and cycling helmet to Eva Bailey’s dungarees to the single tap shoe of Declan Ryder’s William, each was undoubtedly unique. Dressed in bright yellow boots, Nixon’s Leaf was performed wonderfully, creating a fully believable pre-teen. Equally, both Ryder and Bailey was perfect, with Bailey’s performance of The I Love You Song being one of the standout moments of the whole performance. With such a large ensemble cast, I regrettably do not have enough space to explore every character; however, an honourable mention must be made for Grace Olusola’s iconic Mitch Mahoney, the janitor and comfort giver. Likewise, the band of talented musicians deserve a shoutout!

What was my favourite moment of the spelling bee? I think that like Rona there are too many small moments to count – particularly noteworthy is the unexpected arrival of a certain biblical figure and any moment in which director, Harry Brook, was able to forget the stresses of his role for a second while caught up the humour of the performance. Ultimately, this is a tale of everything that goes on beneath the surface of relationships and is a reminder of how hard parents can push their children in the hope of success. It is a comedy about how life is pandemonium and a quiet reminder of how a dictionary can be a very reliable friend to introverts and misfits. It is about the intensity the education system and how it is ok to not live up to expectations sometimes. Thus, despite the perhaps odd premise, this is a wonderfully fun and meaningful musical that is worth seeing if you have the chance. A couple of things to remember when heading to see this performance are a warm coat and some midgie spray… and not to sit on the isles if you are not a fan of audience participation. I would also be aware of the possibility of projectile sweets thrown by an irate Chip Tolentino (played by Maurice Cole)!