Metropolis has a winner in delightful 'Spelling Bee'

Let me begin by saying I like "The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee" a lot.

I like the audacious premise: A group of kids, all played by adults, compete at a spelling bee. As a former spelling bee participant myself, how could I not enjoy a charming, witty show built around a handful of offbeat young spelling whizzes? And besides the delightful story, the show is packed with sweet songs by master songsmith William Finn.

More importantly, I like the current production at the Metropolis Performing Arts Centre in Arlington Heights. The characters seem quirkier and better fleshed out by Robin Hughes' multitalented ensemble than in other productions I have seen.

In large part this is because Hughes' ensemble excels at taking characters who could easily be turned into mere comic stereotypes they are all in their own way nerdy social misfits and giving them unsuspected depth. So we laugh with these kids, not at them.

James Nedrud, for example, finds the heart in William Barfee, a brainy social outcast with post nasal drip and an odd gift: He spells out words with his foot. Likewise, Patrick Tierney adds depth to his portrayal of the awkward Leaf Coneybear, giving the boy more than just a series of comic ticks and gestures. But it seems unfair to single out performances in a show where there is literally no weak link.

More impressive still is how gracefully everyone handles Finn's notoriously difficult music. If they ever struggle with the material, they never show it. It all seems as effortless as their well-executed dance moves, also choreographed by Hughes.

Despite the age of the characters, the show may not resonate with younger kids. My enthusiasm, for example, was totally lost on my 9-year-old daughter. Raised on the splashier "High School Musical" and its sequels, she wanted action not spelling. And I suspect she is not alone. "Spelling Bee" awards plenty of laughs, but many may be wasted on audience members too young, or pouty, to appreciate them.

That's too bad because this "Spelling Bee" is a winner in my book.