The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee

Beef and Boards Dinner Theatre opens its 38th season with The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee. The show is a hilarious romp through the pressures placed on the young contestants (and organizers) of a local spelling bee. A departure from their normal fare, The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee is a breath of fresh air. Comedic performances from a well-rounded cast compliment snappy songs and a very funny script. Directed by J.R. Stuart, Beef and Boards new season is off to a wonderful start with this tongue-in-cheek musical.

A show that elicits such raucous laughter I nearly fell out of my seat (for real), The Spelling Bee is a must see. It takes all types at the Putnam County Spelling Bee. From Leaf Coneybear, the kid who marches to a different drummer in homemade clothes, to the over-achieving Marcy Park and the snot-driveling William Barfee, the cast of The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee comes together to create a remarkable ensemble. In addition, nearly ever cast member doubles as a minor character, seamlessly shifting to a second amusing interpretation of the parents in the audience.

As Leaf Coneybear, Seth A. Tucker stole the show and stole my heart with his hilarious schtick. His quirky performance of the class weirdo had me giggling practically every time he spoke. Yet, it seems that each character has the ability to climb into the heart of various audience members, depending on the childhood type that most closely relates to your own experience. The beauty of the musical lies in its ability to poke fun at our-old-selves, the ones who awkwardly roamed the halls of middle school and maybe even asked a moderator to "define the word" at some point.

A liberal departure from Beef and Boards normal season scheduling, The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee was a delightful surprise. I hope that the Beef continues to make choices like this in their upcoming seasons. With talented actors, the right script and a director that has a solid sense of comedic timing, the walls of their theatre ring with the echo of laughter.

Cats at Clowes

I saw Cats at Clowes for NUVO. Check out my review here. Or read below.

4 stars

Broadway Across America, Clowes Memorial Hall, Nov. 26-28. With an eighteen-year run on Broadway, Cats is one of those shows that nearly everyone does or should see in their lifetime. Based on T.S. Elliot's Old Possum's Book of Practical Cats, the play's longevity is undoubtedly due to its modernist source material. Coupled with a score from legendary EGOT winner Andrew Lloyd Webber, a world of pure imagination is born. Choreographic storytelling allows audiences to delight in Elliot's interpretations of the ever-curious feline world. Though believable physicality allows us to fully enter into the fantasy of a Jellicle Ball, it is the clearly defined hierarchies and etiquette between cat-like performers that makes this story so timeless. With both short-story songs that relate to all ages and an over-arching allegorical examination of humanity and the possibility for rebirth, Cats is, simply put, a classic.

A Beef and Boards Christmas

Beef and Boards presents their annual Christmas spectacular, A Beef and Boards Christmas, through December 23. This variety show features classic holiday tunes, dancing, extremely coordinated outfits and, of course, the man in red himself: Santa. For an entertaining evening of Christmas cheer without agenda or message, head to Beef and Boards for their annual holiday pageant.

Eddie Curry acts as master of ceremonies for this variety show that clocks in at just under two hours. Laying the cheese on thick, Curry makes no apologizes for the groans that echo throughout the theatre after his corny comedy. His ownership over this shtick tickles the funny bone in an unexpected way, as the audience unites in expectation of the next bad joke.

The incomparable Christine Mild returns to the Beef and Boards stage delighting eardrums with the soothing tones of her voice. Christopher Dickerson reprises his rendition of "O Holy Night," and once again takes the prize as the sexiest baritone in Indianapolis this holiday season. Rounding out the singing ensemble this year are Traci Blair and John Vessels. While Vessels provides his own brand of comic relief, Blair is largely unmemorable in her performance. However, when the four take on some of our favorite holiday tunes together, cheer seems to ooze from every corner of the room.

Kenny Shepherd and Deb Wims don the roles of pseduo Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers, providing numerous dance solos and a bit of vocal prowess. The two friends are undoubtedly adorable together, as they reunite on stage for their annual tradition. It is impossible to keep your toes from tapping as they showcase a variety of dance styles including a very skilled tap dance. When backed by the chorus of six rockette-like dancers, Shephard and Wims lead some of the best dance numbers on stage at Beef and Boards all year.

For an easy night of celebration and a trip through classic Christmas carols, don't miss A Beef and Boards Christmas on stage now through December 23.

White Christmas at Beef and Boards

Beef and Boards Dinner Theatre kicks off the Christmas season a bit early this year with their production of White Christmas. Fans of the film beware, the staged production varies greatly from the beloved musical numbers performed by Bing Crosby, Rosemary Clooney, Danny Kaye and Vera-Ellen. In effect, the adaptation strips the main characters of valuable relationship building moments to make way for big ensemble numbers.

The show heralds the return of Christine Mild to the Beef and Boards stage, who blew audiences away earlier this year with Always. . . Patsy Cline. I could seriously listen to the warming tones of her sentimental voice for hours on end. And while the show fails to truly feature her vocal talent, it was a pleasure to hear her sing again. Unfortunately, pleasure was not gleaned from the voice of Curt Dale Clark as Bob Wallace. While Clark has solid vocal chops, he largely fails to capture emotion as he sings, opting instead for the dreaded musical theatre smile and mug to the audience.

Tim Ford does an honorable job of filling the shoes of Phil Davis. The brilliance of Danny Kaye's portrayal of the part creates a hard shadow to creep out from, yet Ford manages to make the role his own. He explores the womanizing and romantic depths of the character, rather than donning the clownish aura Kaye made famous in the film. As Judy Haynes, Erin West is simply a doll. The dance stand-out of the show, she captures the essence of greats like Ginger Rogers as she two-steps with her partner Ford.

The difficulty in staging White Christmas is two fold. First, the actors cannot escape comparison to such a wonderful holiday film, setting them up for almost immediate failure when they rightly choose to deliver differently built characters. Secondly, it just can't feel like Christmas before we've even worn the ghoulish masks of Halloween. However, Eddie Curry's direction creates a sentimental piece easily enjoyed when expectations are checked at the door.

Cabaret Poe at the Historic Irvington Lodge

Cabaret Poe at the Historic Irvington Lodge is a must see show for this Halloween season.  Creative, catchy and delightful, the cast of four takes audiences on an unforgettable journey through the work of Edgar Allen Poe.

Here is my review originally published in NUVO.

Director, composer, lyricist and star of Q Artistry's Cabaret Poe, Ben Asakywee, transforms the literature of Edgar Allen Poe into a snappy pop musical, with just the right amount of somberness and humor. Tim Burton-inspired designs seamlessly represent the collision of Poe's macabre writing with the tongue-in-cheek of Asakywee's adaptation and direction. Spot-on dead-pans from Asakywee, Julie Lyn Barber and Renae Stone, who join him on stage, create ripples of giggles through the audience as they tackle the genius of one of America's greatest storytellers through song and dance. With a confident use of direct address and audience interaction, the trio of actors is thoroughly entertaining from beginning to end. The Historic Irvington Lodge provides the perfect backdrop for a Poe parlor show. Through Oct. 31; 677-5318, www.cabaretpoe.com.