THE SPELLING BEE AS A MIRROR OF LIFE
The Sandbox Collective’s production of ‘The 25th Annual Putnam Spelling Bee’ focuses on how young people live every day with social media and scrutiny
That acclaimed, multiawarded interactive musical comedy (with moments of drama) with a long title—”The 25th Annual Putnam Spelling Bee”—is in for a second incarnation in Manila. It will be produced by the Sandbox Collective, an affiliate of 9 Works Theatrical, and directed by Missy Maramara, with musical direction by Rony Fortich. Young talents will be interacting with “adults,” or theater veterans.
This was announced at a lively press conference at Privato Hotel in Quezon City. Hosting the conference was Toff de Venecia, a.k.a. Rep. Christopher de Venecia, known for his advocacy for theater being an important part of nation-building. Coproducers are ABS-CBN, Star Magic and Teatro Kapamilya.
Present during the presscon was a gaggle of young actors and actresses with different backgrounds, or from Star Magic and new to theater.
The young stars include AC Bonifacio, Becca Coates, Diego Aranda, Elian Dominguez, Joshy Ramirez and Krystal Brimmer.
Other young talents playing important roles or alternates include Shanaia Gomez, Angela Ken, Justine Narciso, Luis Marcelo, Ron Balgos and Shaun Ocrisma.
The adults are A-listed actress-singer Liesl Batucan-del Rosario (in a comeback role), Audie Gemora, Robbie Guevara (better known as a director), Nyoy Volante and Jordan Andrew.
The musical play is by Rachel Sheikin and William Finn.
Intense competition
“The spelling bee is a very intense competition where young kids are under scrutiny for their decisions about spelling out words, literally and metaphorically,” Maramara said. “These young people, as embodied by our actors, are going to be under intense scrutiny as it happens in everyday life because of social media, because of technology that is increasing and developing at a speed that, you know, is surpassing how humans grow, and that is affecting society as we know it.”
She added, “We wanted to zoom in on their (the youths’) thought process, to reveal certain ideas and certain words to highlight the profundity of the text which may appear fun and lighthearted. Young actors were chosen so as to reach out to the younger generation, to make them feel the pressure of the characters. Our youth deal with a lot of that pressure, and that’s why we want to offer that with a cast of the same age range.”
In the story, the spellers are introduced one by one by the moderator named Rona. They talk about what they anticipate in the competition. There is a trophy for the winner and a juice box for the five losers. The character named Olive has not paid entrance fee because her parents have not arrived. William has an unusual technique. Some spellers get the easy words, and the others complain (“Pandemonium”). Lazaine has two overbearing fathers. Mary is haughty because she is a linguist (“I Speak Six Languages”). One speller is called dumb by her parents. Chip has an erection and loses! He even sings about these—the loss, and the erections. (“My Unfortunate Erection”).
The play flash-forward. ends with a
Audience participation
The play is interactive because in every presentation, members of the audience are asked to join the spelling bee and are given a prize if they answer correctly. And this is what happened in the media launch, with one media person answering incorrectly and another correctly, so she was given a prize (I think it was a coffee grinder). Production numbers were staged and the Q&A focused on the young ones, with the adults graciously in the background.
I couldn’t tell who was who, there were so many of them, but heard these snippets of replies to the questions and observations: “I feel at home here, when I am on the stage”; “It’s a challenge to do theater with showbiz”; “It’s my first time in theater, very refreshing, very professional”; “Everything is new”; “It’s family-oriented, very Filipino”; “Not just lighthearted, it’s for everyone”; “So much energy.”
De Venecia, who codirected the play during his Ateneo Blue Repertory days, called it
“really a coming of age story about the pains and joys of growing up. I cried many times while watching the run, and I always find new moments in the show that affect me deeply.”
“Spelling Bee” struck me as being a metaphor, a mirror of life, with its parental issues, joys and sorrows, aspirations and at times conflicts. The director agreed with this interpretation: “I’m with you there.”
The play runs at the Black Box Theater, Circuit Makati, Feb. 24 to March 17. Call tel. no. 0976-4891563.