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Audio CD
Publisher: Ghostlight Records
Format: Cast Recording
When was the last time you heard a musical with a truly hilarious book? Rachel Sheinkin has concocted such a thing for The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, one of the most unexpected hits of 2005. Unfortunately, Sheinkin's wit is mostly lost on a cast album; fortunately, the show's songs are by the great William Finn. Set at the titular event, the musical never looks down on the competiting kids (played by adult actors), instead portraying them as endearingly nerdy but also smart, and endowing them with real personalities rather than predictably spelling-bee tics. The cast is uniformly superb, although personal faves include Sarah Saltzberg, playing Logainne Schwartzandgrubenierre with a delicious lisp ("Woe Is Me"); Jesse Tyler Ferguson, bringing sweet innocence to Leaf Coneybear ("I'm Not That Smart"); and Dan Fogler, in a breakout comic performance as William Barfee ("Magic Foot," sounding like a sly tribute to Kander & Ebb). This show may be small in scale, but it's a huge winner. --Elisabeth Vincentelli Other Great Musicals of the Season 
Spamalot | 
Dirty Rotten Scoundrels | 
The Light in the Piazza | 
Little Women | 
All Shook Up | 
Altar Boyz |
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| For anyone who's ever felt like a dorky kid growing up |
| Customer Rating: 4 out of 5 |
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I bought this CD for rehearsals because I will be in a local production of "The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee". I listen to it in the car as I take my kids to their various activities, and now they love the songs, too! (In fact, they'll have the lyrics memorized before I will!) The CD is about various kids competing in a spelling bee, and it tells their individual quirky and poignant stories. Some of the songs make me laugh out loud, some make me well up with tears. The tunes are catchy, the lyrics are clever, and the vocals are first-rate. I think anyone who has ever felt awkward or out-of-place growing up will identify with something on this CD.
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| Hear the music, see the play!! |
| Customer Rating: 5 out of 5 |
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If this musical is playing in your area, get tickets and see it soon! I have to say it was one of the best musicals I have ever seen - so much more 'real' than Le Miz (so overblown) and more touching than Lion King. I saw it 4 times when it was in San Francisco - if you love ensemble-type theater you'll love this play.
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| Great fun, but not for the little ones! |
| Customer Rating: 4 out of 5 |
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We thought this was great fun, very engaging in the tradition of the modern musical. Just be careful, there are a couple of cuts that are not for "the wee ones". But, my 2nd and 4th grader love all the other songs. They love "Magic Foot" in particular. We just skip past the "mature" material. I suggest you listen to it first so you know what to skip.
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| Love it!!!! |
| Customer Rating: 5 out of 5 |
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This is a great cd. I loved it when I listened to it, but loved it more after I saw the show.
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| Good but not great |
| Customer Rating: 3 out of 5 |
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I'd heard the opening number as well as "The I Love You Song" upon which I decided I'd like to listen to the entire soundtrack. I liked the concept behind the musical and thought it would be fun.
Upon first listening I have to say I was slightly disappointed. The style of singing is all the same: strong and loud and the melodic movement of the songs is generally all the same with lots of long notes that generally get prety annoying after awhile.
Some positives though...The songs move through the progression of the bee quite nicely with the "Goodbye" Songs and "My Favourite Moment From the Bee" songs adding a nice theme to the whole score.
"The I Love You Song" is still a personal favourite but "Woe is Me" is also a strong song and parts of "Pandemonium" with it's upbeat rhythm are toe tapping and enjoyable.
The characters are varied but their songs don't really do them justice.
Good but not great.
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25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee
Spelling Rules/My Favorite Moment of the Bee 1 - Howard, Lisa, ,
My Friend, The Dictionary - Howard, Lisa, Celia Keenan-Bolger,
First Goodbye
Pandemonium - Jose Llana, Company
I'm Not That Smart - Jesse Tyler Ferguson
Second Goodbye
Magic Feet
Pandemonium (Reprise)/My Favorite Moment of the Bee 2 - Derrick Baskin, Howard, Lisa, Jose Llana
Why We Like Spelling
Prayer of the Comfort Counselor - Derrick Baskin
My Unfortunate Erection (Chip's Lament) - Jose Llana
Woe Is Me
I'm Not That Smart (Reprise) - Jesse Tyler Ferguson
I Speak Six Languages - Craig, Deborah S.
I Love You Song - Derrick Baskin, Howard, Lisa, Celia Keenan-Bolger
Woe Is Me (Reprise)
My Favorite Moment of the Bee 3/Second - Howard, Lisa, Celia Keenan-Bolger
Finale
Last Goodbye
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