Watching the Spelling Bee Again
As far as I can recall, this is the first stage musical I watched...again!
So what's the difference this time around? First, two original cast members have been replaced by another husband-and-wife team: the role of William Barfée previously played by Richard Everley is now being essayed by Lorenz Martinez; the role of Marcy Parks which was played by Thea Tadiar-Everley is now ably acted by Shiela Valderrama-Martinez.
I have been wowed by the original cast members so I was curious as to how the Martinezes fare in this rerun of Atlantis Productions' The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee. And shall I say the Martinezes were able to fit into the roles left by the Everleys "very nice, very nice, very, very, very nice"!
Martinez's tenor is so distinct that you won't have trouble understanding what he was mouthing off (that's one of the major problems of some local productions when they stage English plays--enunciation! And if they really enunciate, they come off trying very hard!). The fruit never really falls far from the tree. Daddy Leo must be proud! As for Shiela Valderrama-Martinez... she has made the role of Marcy Parks her own! Marcy's role is very physical and she was up to it! A remarkable actress, indeed! Director Bobby Garcia did a re-cast of the roles brilliantly.
The rest of the cast have grown into their roles that I appreciated them more. Pheona Barranda as Logainne was more at home with her lisps (unlike before, I had a hard time understanding her). This time though, I was able to feel her character's need to be a winner. Cathy Azanza as Ms. Peretti was having a great time (you feel like she's been hosting The Bee for 9 consecutive years!). I loved Carla Guevara-Laforteza's portrayal of Olive; her trio with Azanza (doubling as Olive's mom) and Noel Rayos (doubling as her dad) was so heartfelt that even she was moved (she had tears! I never saw them the first time I saw the play). As always, Joel Trinidad as Vice Principal Douglas Panche was a riot. Johan Dela Fuente was really comfortable in his role as Leaf Coneybear, he is living it; and Felix Rivera as Chip Tolentino played his role with conviction.
Although the show started kinda slow, it picked up after they have invited two celebrity guest spellers for that evening and another two audience volunteers to join them on stage. I half-expected to see a show that's been worn out by its first run but to my surprise, it's like watching it for the first time. Galing! Guest spellers were Phoemela Barranda and TJ Trinidad. I believe that the Singapore tour of The Bee will be successful.
So what's the difference this time around? First, two original cast members have been replaced by another husband-and-wife team: the role of William Barfée previously played by Richard Everley is now being essayed by Lorenz Martinez; the role of Marcy Parks which was played by Thea Tadiar-Everley is now ably acted by Shiela Valderrama-Martinez.
I have been wowed by the original cast members so I was curious as to how the Martinezes fare in this rerun of Atlantis Productions' The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee. And shall I say the Martinezes were able to fit into the roles left by the Everleys "very nice, very nice, very, very, very nice"!
Martinez's tenor is so distinct that you won't have trouble understanding what he was mouthing off (that's one of the major problems of some local productions when they stage English plays--enunciation! And if they really enunciate, they come off trying very hard!). The fruit never really falls far from the tree. Daddy Leo must be proud! As for Shiela Valderrama-Martinez... she has made the role of Marcy Parks her own! Marcy's role is very physical and she was up to it! A remarkable actress, indeed! Director Bobby Garcia did a re-cast of the roles brilliantly.
The rest of the cast have grown into their roles that I appreciated them more. Pheona Barranda as Logainne was more at home with her lisps (unlike before, I had a hard time understanding her). This time though, I was able to feel her character's need to be a winner. Cathy Azanza as Ms. Peretti was having a great time (you feel like she's been hosting The Bee for 9 consecutive years!). I loved Carla Guevara-Laforteza's portrayal of Olive; her trio with Azanza (doubling as Olive's mom) and Noel Rayos (doubling as her dad) was so heartfelt that even she was moved (she had tears! I never saw them the first time I saw the play). As always, Joel Trinidad as Vice Principal Douglas Panche was a riot. Johan Dela Fuente was really comfortable in his role as Leaf Coneybear, he is living it; and Felix Rivera as Chip Tolentino played his role with conviction.
Although the show started kinda slow, it picked up after they have invited two celebrity guest spellers for that evening and another two audience volunteers to join them on stage. I half-expected to see a show that's been worn out by its first run but to my surprise, it's like watching it for the first time. Galing! Guest spellers were Phoemela Barranda and TJ Trinidad. I believe that the Singapore tour of The Bee will be successful.
Comments