Proving once again that some of the best things come in small packages, Warsaw’s Ramada Wagon Wheel Theatre is closing its 2010 season with a small-cast show that is a big winner: “The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee.”

The “Bee” began on a small stage Off-Broadway and received such a great response that it moved quickly to a bigger house on the Great White Way. Having seen it on both sizes, trust me that it plays much better on a small stage with the audience in close proximity.

Spellers (from left: Matthew Dailey, Erica Wilpon, Caitlin Mesiano, Nick Laughlin and Dave Adamick. Kayla Roy is missing) get ready for "The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee."

The 2005 Tony Award winner for Best Book in a Musical starts off with a bang as the six middle school contestants take their places under the careful eyes former Bee winner Rona Lisa Peretti (Sophie Grimm ) and a vice principal just returned from an enforced leave of absence, Vice Principal Douglas Lanch (Ari Frankel). Each has their own story to tell, their own hidden (and not-so-hidden) agenda and their own unique way of approaching a spelling word.

Logainne SchwartzandGrubinierre (Erica Wilpon) writes on her forearm before spelling audibly; Olive Ostrovsky (Kayla Roy) spells into her cupped hand prior to facing the judges; Marcy Park (Caitlin Mesiano), who can speak six languages, steps up rapidly, spells quickly and sits down swiftly; Chip Tolentino (Nick Laughlin) is sabotaged by his “unfortunate distraction”; Leaf Conybear (Matthew Daily) is sure he can’t spell but each word comes out basso profundo; and William Barfee (“that’s BarFAY”) (David Adamick) has a “Magic Foot” with which he writes each word on the floor before spelling aloud. Mitch Mahoney (Zachary McConnell) is the “comfort counselor,” as part of his community service, and greets each eliminated speller with a hug and juice box.

Each performance four “spellers” are pre-selected from the audience and are a part of the contest until each is eliminated. How long each remains depends on how long it takes Panch to find a word he/she can’t spell.

In charge of the contest, Peretti recalls her win as the happiest moment of her life and Panch reads the word and supplies its origin and a use-in-a-sentence  definition when requested.  His definitions supply the largest and longest laughs throughout Act I.

William Barfee (David Adamick) gets ready to put his "Magic Foot" in action during "The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling."

If the score is not familiar, each song becomes a treasure in itself as the contestants reveal their hopes, fears and hidden feelings throughout Act II. Each of the performers totally embodies the individual highs and lows of his/her character and succeeds in connecting with the audience almost instantly.

Director/choreographer Scott Michaels keeps the pace crackling along while David LePors set, Stephen R. Hollenbeck’s wonderfully quirky costumes and Fritz Bennett’s lighting design enhance the action and the characters as always.

The four-member band, lead by musical conductor/keyboardist Thomas N. Sterling, is as good as always and, unfortunately, marks Sterling’s finale at the Wheel. He will be missed.

“THE 25th ANNUAL PUTNAM COUNTY SPELLING BEE” plays Tuesday through Saturday in the theater at 2517 E. Center Street in Warsaw. For performance times and reservations call (574) 267-8041.

Heading into its second decade of producing works by the Bard of Avon, the Notre Dame Shakespeare Festival not only has grown into its now-official name (formerly Summer Shakespeare, a title which seemed a bit less formal and/or here-to-stay) but has chosen as its 11th full production one of Shakespeare’s infrequently  produced plays, “Cymbeline.”

Surprise, then, that I found this 400-year-old work (first on stsge in 1611) a real delight. Of course, the high standard of all NDSF offerings is still obvious in the external aspects of this production. Costumes, set, lighting, staging and original music are all, as expected, level with the best.

Posthumus (Wardell Julius Clark) and Imogen (Margie Janiczek) are torn apart by the Queen (Siiri Scott) in the Notre Dame Shakespeare Festival production of "Cymbeline."

Minimal research into the origin and heritage of “Cymbeline” reveal that it has been revamped and rearranged act-wise too many times to count since that 17th century debut. So it really doesn’t matter which of its formats has been chosen by director Jay Paul Skelton, since the one on stage through Aug. 29 in the Patricia Decio Theatre in the DeBartolo Performing Arts Center is strongly performed and has enough of everything — romance, intrigue, treachery, battles and, in a denoument in the best romance novel tradition, a happy ending.

There is little chance of explaining the entire plot in this limited space. Once underway,  however, it is quite easy to follow. The title is the name of an ancient British king (John Neisler) whose only daughter, Imogen (Margie Janiczek), has married a non-royal Posthumus (Wardell Julius Clark) rather than Cloton (Ian Paul Custer), the loutish noble he has chosen for her who just happens to be the son of widowed Cymbeline’s second wife, the also-widowed Queen (Siiri Scott). The Queen, of course, has her own agenda, with all plots leading to the throne.

In true Shakespearean tradition, Cymbeline banishes Posthumus, who heads for Italy leaving his faithful servant Pisanio (Christopher McLinden) to keep an eye on Imogen. What he does is help her fake her death so she can follow Posthumus dressed, naturally, as a boy.

The plot thickens when Imogen encounters Polydore/Guiderius (Joshua Jeffers) and Cadwal/Arrivagus (Devin Preston) who have lived in a cave in the woods with Belaria (Maureen Gallagher), a former general of Cymbeline’s. Of course, the two boys are brothers Imogen thought dead, kidnapped by Belaria as payback when unjustly accused of treachery.

There is more — a lot more  —  but it unfolds with amazing clarity and arrives with final explanations, reunions, pardons and a declaration of peace, all within the last moments of the two-hour (including intermission ) production.

Although the action takes place in early England, Wales and Italy, scenic designer Marcus Stephens has created a pseudo Arabian Nights setting, the aim of which, according to program notes, was “to create a timeless world.” Combined with Kevin Dreyer’s lush lighting design which defines each locale and the elegantly graceful and equally defining costumes by Richard E. Donnelly, it definitely achieves its goal.

The company combines professional, community and student actors who talents allow them to blend seamlessly (and who deserve extra applause for working on the raked stage, which is probably the reason everyone is barefoot).The realistic fight sequences are directed by Kevin Asselin who also played the villainous Iachimo.  All are listed in the program as “ensemble,” whether they play non-speaking roles or leads.

The program bears the slogan “World-class theatre. Right next door.” It could not be more correct.

“CYMBELINE” will be presented through Aug. 29 in the theater on the University of Notre Dame campus. Tickets are $12 to $35.  For times and reservations, call 631-2800.