Moonlight Players to present 'Spelling Bee'
ROXANNE BROWN | Staff Writer
roxannebrown@dailycommercial.com
Those ready for a little "F-U-N" may want to attend The Moonlight Player's production of "The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee," a comedy written by William Finn and Rachel Sheinkin.
The show's director, Jan Sheldon -- the founder and president of the Moonlight Players Theatre -- calls it a comedy filled with lots of musical numbers and a unique twist.
"It's actually like you're in a spelling bee. There are six regular contestants played by the actors and then four contestants that we pull from the audience, " Sheldon said. "It's really a crazy little show but so much fun."
"Having the audience members participate in the spelling bee makes it funny too, since they don't know what words they'll be spelling."
The show centers on a (Putnam) county spelling bee following the wins of six quirky adolescent contestants -- played by adults in the Moonlight rendition -- at their individual schools.
The three adults running the spelling bee in the play are grown-ups who are just as quirky as the adolescent contestants.
"Six young people in the throes of puberty, overseen by grown-ups who barely managed to escape childhood themselves, learn that winning isn't everything and that losing doesn't necessarily make you a loser," the online description of the play on the theater's website says.
And though laughs are a plenty, Sheldon said the underlying theme of the show is that it's unfolding each student's back story and how they all get to know each other during the spelling bee.
In fact, that very theme is what inspired some of Sheldon's friends to prompt her into choosing this show as her January directing pick.
"Some of my friends saw the show not too long ago and said, "This is a Jan Musical," she said, explaining that the play has very little sets and is manly "character driven."
Sheldon said that very thing is what she likes best about it.
"At the beginning of the show, the kids don't know each other and the audience doesn't know them either. They are all coming together for the first time at the spelling bee, but you get to know their back stories," Sheldon said. "It's amazing how by the end of the play, you really get to know each of the characters."
In brief, Sheldon said the three adults running the bee are a crazy bunch to start with.
They are Rona Lisa Peretti, the number one Realtor in Putnam County and former Putnam County Spelling Bee Champion herself, (played by Leesa Hanna); Vice Principal Douglas Panch, (played by Jeff Lindberg), who ends up having to take over as "the word pronouncer" after the original one got sick; and Mitch Mahoney, (played by Ben Judkins) an ex-convict carrying out his community service sentence by being the comfort counselor at the spelling bee, in charge of consoling the children with juice boxes and hugs after they are "out."
The six contestants are kids of various lifestyles, including a girl with two gay dads, a science geek, a boy scout and the third-place winner only there because the first- and second-place winners from his school could not attend after all.
"They each have their own quirks and personalities," Sheldon said.
The student contestants are Olive Ostrovsky, played by Joelle Hall; Willam Barfee, played by Tad Kincade; Logainne Schwartzy, played by Chanel Herren; Marcy Park, played by Tracy McCoy; Leaf Coneybear, played by Derek Friend; and Charlito "Chip" Tonentino, played by Nathan Jesse.
Sheldon said she enjoys both the acting and directing and praised the cast and crew members of all her shows, including this one, which she called, "fantastic."
"They are all so wonderful. I have a great cast. This (spelling bee) is a heavy show musically and I got some great singers," Sheldon said. "I think people are really going to enjoy the show."
The show runs from Jan. 11 through Feb. 10 at the theatre, located at 732 West Montrose Street in Clermont.
Tickets are $15 for adults and $12 for students.
Showtimes are at 8 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays and at 2 p.m. on Sundays.
There will be no show on Feb. 3.
For more information or to make reservations, call 352-319-1116 or 352-243-5875 or visit www.moonlightplayers.com.
Friday, January 11, 2013 - www.dailycommercial.com/11jan2013en