The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee

Roleystone Theatre, currently homeless while their iconic home theatre undergoes restoration and re-building, have created a 2019 season designed to attract audiences, while they perform “away from home”. Unfortunately - despite the fact that this is a production of superb quality - the audiences are yet to find them.

The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee is being performed to “christen" very newly renovated Armadale District Town Hall, which boasts brand new retractable seating, attractive foyers and a lovely blend of heritage and modernity. The venue is perfect for this show, which is set in a school or community hall.

On a simple but effective set, by director Stephen Carr, we attend a spelling bee run by Vice Principal Douglas Panch, played with tenuous authority by Rory Cornelius, and realtor Rona Lisa Peretti, a very efficient Nicole George. Both actors improvise well and make great choices in this show, which has many alternate pathways. They are supported beautifully by unlikely comfort counsellor Mitch Mahoney, very loveably played by Callum Presbury.

The young spellers, played by adults, are a fabulously bizarre group of young people. Jarvys McQueen-Mason is a gloriously awkward William Barfee, whose “magic foot” is beautifully handled in this show. Max Gipson is a wonderfully naive Leaf Coneybear - with a Batman obsession. Dylan Dorotich is a gentle and warm Olive Ostrovsky. Megan McDonald gave an edge to Marcy Park - playing her in a way I have not seen before, and it was great to see a different interpretation and some surprises in her song. Breanna Redhead, new to WA, makes a big impression as Logainne Schwartzandgrubenierre and is a performer to watch, while Matthew Arnold is very strong as alpha male Chip.

Part of the fun of Spelling Bee is the addition of four spellers from the audience each performance. I volunteered, was randomly selected, and can highly recommend doing this if you are given the opportunity. This cast are warm and caring, and although you will watch some of the show “from behind”, you will be privy to some very clever and very funny whispered improvisation.

Bree Hartley leads a great quality band, Ssound balance (design by Sarah Connolly) is fine (no small feat for a first use in a venue) and lighting by Ellis R. Kinnear is fun, funky and functional.

This show appears to be a victim of Mad May. With about a dozen shows opening this week, it seems that Armadale might seem too far away or a harder choice than some of the other offerings. Roleystone Theatre needs more support than most - and this is not a charity choice, as this is a top-notch show that is a huge amount of fun

With a short run, move quickly to catch this magic spell of a show.

Kimberley Shaw

Photographer: Zyg Woltersforf