Review: Oceanside Theatre's ‘Spelling Bee' a winning comedy
“I-m-p-i-s-h.” Part of speech: Adjective. Meaning: Playfully mischievous and lighthearted.
That’s not one of the quiz words in “The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee,” but it’s an apt description of the charming and offbeat musical that Oceanside Theatre Company opened Saturday at the Brooks Theater.
The popular 2004 musical is about six oddball contestants at a regional middle-school-level spelling tournament. The musical’s not really about grammar. It’s about the awkwardness of adolescence and the insecurities, romantic crushes and family issues we all faced growing up. As each contestant steps up to spell a challenging word, their minds often wander into memory-related song-and-dance numbers.
What makes “Spelling Bee” so enjoyable are its well-crafted characters, each an archetype of the students, teachers and parents we all recognize from our childhoods. Speaking of which, four members of the audience are recruited before each performance to fill out the pool of onstage contestants (if you’re picked, be prepared to spell increasingly hard words and take part in a big dance number).
The cast is led by two bee moderators: Sarah Jane Salonga is serious and wistful as Rona Lisa Peretti, a Type-A real estate agent who won the bee in third grade and still cherishes the memories, and the superbly deadpan Dallas McLaughlin plays Douglas Panch, a self-important school administrator with personal baggage.
The contestants - all performed well by current college students and recent college graduates - are a cross-section of typical middle-school brainiacs.
There’s Catholic schoolgirl Marcy Park, the Korean overachiever who’s good at everything but doesn’t enjoy it (Em Danque is sweet and focused as the miserable grade-schooler who sings “I Speak Six Languages”); 13-year-old Boy Scout Chip Tolentino, last year’s bee victor whose repeat entry is foiled by a pretty girl in the front row (Luis Sherlinee makes the most of his naughty solo “My Unfortunate Erection”); William Barfee, the post-nasal-drip-challenged misfit who spells with his feet (Cooper Ogden in a hilarious, scene-stealing performance); Olive Ostrovsky, the lonely, word-loving 12-year-old whose parents ignore her (Carly O’Rear is tender and heartbroken in the part); Leaf Coneybear, the hyperactive, home-schooled middle child who fears he’s not smart enough (Wyatt Van Hazel is eager and adorable as this classic underachiever); and Logainne Schwartzandgrubenierre, the lisping 10-year-old girl with two pushy and over-involved dads (Amy Oliverio is terrific at playing the brainy tween). Completing the cast is Riohn Jones, who plays both the bee’s comfort counselor and one of Logainne’s dads.
Melissa Glasgow directed and choreographed the high-energy and laugh-filled 90-minute show. Richard Dueñez Morrison served as musical director, Michael Wogulis designed the school gym set, Grace Wong designed costumes, Geronimo Omabtang designed sound and Sammy Webster designed lighting.
Because “Spelling Bee” is surefire audience favorite, it pops up regularly at local theaters. But for those who haven’t seen the show, it comes with a PG-13 recommendation because of curse words and light sexual humor in the songs.
Watching this “Bee,” you’ll find yourself spelling the vocabulary words in your head and rooting for the contestants. As odd and bizarre as each child may seem, there’s a little of all of us in them and it’s fun to cheer them on.
‘The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee’
When: 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays; 2 p.m. Sundays. Through June 14.
Where: Oceanside Theatre Company at The Brooks, 217 N. Coast Highway, Oceanside
Tickets: $28-$45
Online:oceansidetheatre.org
Copyright 2026 Tribune Content Agency. All Rights Reserved.