I Had Forgotten How Enchanting This Show Actually Was!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                        Last Thursday afternoon, David and I went to see New World Stages' production of "The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee."  Twenty years before, at the tail end of its original run, with none of its iconic cast present, I was less than impressed.  The performers in that presentation were literally walking through it.  A friend and I saw it months before it closed, and I was disappointed.

                                             You see, when this show opened on Broadway, at The Circle In The Square Theatre, it had a cast destined to be historic and iconic.  Jesse Tyler Ferguon, Celia Keenan-Bolger, and Dan Fogler, who won a TONY Award for his performance  You can bet they did not walk througgh it.

                                                   Now, the production on display at New World Stages may not be iconic, but it does have some noteworthy actors.  First, in Celia's role of Olive is Jasmine Amy Rogers, who lit up Broadway last season in the title role of "Boop!"   It is good to have her back.  Also on display is Lilli Cooper, whom we saw as Nancy in ENCORES presentation of "Oliver!"  And then there is Jason Kravits, forever typecast as an administrative drudge since his classic performance as a high school principal in my favorite 'SVU' episode, "MEAN," back in 2004.

                                                         None of these performers, or any others, walk through the show.  Indeed, they perform it with a passion and liveliness I had never seen in it before and thus was completely captivated.  Two others who stood out were Autumn Best as one of my favorites, Logainne Schwartzandgrubenierre.

  Now, let me digress a moment.  When this production first played at the Kennedy Center, before it was renamed, this role was played by--are you ready????--Beanie Feldstein!!!!!!!!  Yes, that THING!  Daddy must have bought her this one too!  Yet, when it was decided to take this show to NYC, Feldstein was no longer part of the package, and it is a good thing because Miss Best makes it her own, and does not upset the balance of the show, let alone the stage, which would tilt like the Titanic, if Feldstein were to step on it!

                                                          Face it, Beanie!  New York Theater does NOT want you!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                                           Kevin McHale is the other who captivated me in the role originated by TONY winner Fogler, William Barfee.  I can easily see me wanting to play this role.  By the way, while watching I spelled all the words out, and I only got two wrong!  McHale's fancy footwork is better than some Broadway dancing I have seen of late.  Except for "Buena Vista Social Club."

                                                              I listened to the William Finn score as though hearing it for the first time.  The cast gave it the liveliness it needed and was lacking when I saw two decades ago, near the end of this run.

                                                                 Speaking of runs, I wish this cast a long one!

                                                                   And theater doors bar forever Beanie Feldstein!!!!!!!!!!!!!!