Opening night spelled out great "f-u-n" for folks attending "The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee" at the Studio Theatre at the Howard Community College's Horowitz Center.
The Tony award-winning comedy (with book by Rachel Sheinkin and music and lyrics by William Finn) ran successfully on Broadway in 2005 and has charmed audiences in the U.S., Canada and Australia since.
Directed for the HCC Arts Collective by Anthony Scimonelli (with music direction by Mayumi Baker Griffie and choreography by Jess Beach), the comedy is driven by six pubescent contestants who compete in a spelling bee.
Four members of the audience, who will be systematically eliminated, join them in the competition on stage in a clever touch on improv.
Scimonelli's impressive cast sings and dances its way beautifully through two wacky acts accompanied by a live orchestra, led by Griffie on piano and comprised of Chris Stagnolo (reeds), Aaron Johnson (drums), Meagan Frame (cello) and Ken Nunn (reeds substitute).
The laughter begins to rise at the first sight of banners on the walls announcing badminton and swimming championships at the "Home of the Porcupines." A poster hanging on stage right wall declares the set a "No Bully Zone."
Designer Mollie Singer's set transforms the entire Studio Theatre into a spot-on replica of a high school gymnasium, complete with a basketball hoop and wooden floors.
Robert Croghan's costumes and Andrew Haag's light design fit the illusion perfectly.
Comfortable audience seating (where bleachers would be) hasn't been tampered with; the overall scenic effect is nonetheless so natural that the smell of sweaty socks seems to be all that's missing.
As anchor and moderator Rona Lisa Paretti, Lauren Blake Williams introduces the contestants, welcomes the audience, and introduces Vice Principal Douglas Panch, who is returning after a hiatus to declare that he is in "a better place now."
Williams delivers her three solo musical numbers with crystal clear vocals in "Rona's Favorite Moments," stepping up to perform an additional role as Olive's Mom equally well.
Daniel Johnston's sassy sarcasm as Panch — who tosses out outrageous sentences the contested words can be used in with impeccable comic timing — catches loads of laughs. (He also delivers playful performances in minor roles as Jesus and one of Schwarzy's gay dads.)
Brandon Love manages to wax cuddly as comfort counselor Mitch Mahoney; his laid back interpretation of an ex-con handing out juice boxes and hugs to the losers plays smooth as silk.
First up to spell, Kaity Krull as Schwarzy is a child activist who adores Hillary Clinton. Pushed by her gay dads to win at all costs, she finds golden moments in two performances of "Woe Is Me."
As Leaf Coneybear, Cole Richard Watts delivers an endearing, bumbling character who chants the spelling of his words in a trance (Haag's lighting is particularly notable here).
And Gabrielle Amara as Olive simply breaks hearts.
Her performance in "I Love You," where Olive fantasizes that her parents are there for her, is superb. Aided by lovely vocals from Williams and Watts (as the parents), "I Love You" easily stands out from the other delightful musical numbers because it plays so sad.
And then there is the irrepressible William Barfée, constantly exasperated by the mispronunciation of his name as "barfy." Warren C. Harris nails the persona of the geeky introvert who pretty much owns the stage in "Magic Foot."
Jordan Colea delivers a standout performance across the board as Marcy, a budding Type A personality who is not allowed to cry, sleeps three hours a night and speaks six languages with frenetic energy. Her musical number, "I Speak Six Languages," is outstanding.
Lastly, Diego Esmolo (who also plays Olive's other gay dad) as Chip comes close to making audience members laugh hard enough to wet their pants as the Boy Scout hit by puberty at the worst possible moment.
Chip's embarrassing predicament (his solo performance of "Chip's Lament" at the end of Act 1 is adorable), along with some mildly risque dialogue, adds enough naughty humor to render Scimonelli's stunning production inappropriate for children under 12.
"The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee" continues at HCC's Horowitz Studio Theatre, 10901 Little Patuxent Parkway, through June 5; Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays at 8 p.m. with matinee performances on Sundays at 3 p.m. General admission is $20. Seniors and Active Military pay $15. Students with ID pay $10. Call 443-518-1500 or buy tickets online at www.howardcc.edu/artscollective.