Peter Hocking and Charlotte McKay check results at a
Musical Theatre Dunedin rehearsal last night for anxious
spelling bee contestants (rear, from left) Anna Thomson
(19), Micah Davis-Rae (17), Esther Smith (20), Louise
Monson (21), Edward O'Driscoll (16) and Ben Thomas (18).
Photo by Linda Robertson.
Musical Theatre Dunedin is producing its first Broadway
theatre restaurant next month, which it is hoped will give
people an alternative to omphaloskepsis.
The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee looks at a
high school spelling bee where the weirdness of the
contestants is only exceeded by their teachers'.
''It's based on an hilarious American documentary called
Spellbound on the spelling bees they have over
there,'' director Dave Goosselink said.
''... It's one of the funniest scripts I've ever seen.''
The musical comedy, to be performed in the Musical Theatre
Dunedin rooms from March 1 to 9, was the first original
Broadway show to be staged by the society as a theatre
restaurant, Mr Goosselink said.
''Our previous theatre restaurants have been a mix of song
and dance cabaret, traditional music halls, or versions of TV
shows, such as Dad's Army and 'Allo 'Allo.''
As for omphaloskepsis.
''It means 'the contemplation of one's navel as an aid to
meditation','' he said.
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