Encore's "Spelling Bee" is likely to create a buzz

You know you're a geek when a song about a dictionary almost always makes you tear up.

But it's true. "My Friend the Dictionary," from the musical "The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee" — now playing at Dexter's Encore Theatre — speaks to my inner (or not so inner?) word nerd.

In fairness, though, my reaction during Encore's opening night performance was also largely due to the moving, vocally gorgeous efforts of Thalia Schramm, who plays the painfully ignored-at-home Olive Ostrovsky — 1 of 6 quirky kids competing in the bee.

Others are defending champion and boy scout Chip Tolentino (Steve DeBruyne); over-programmed overachiever Marcy Park (Christine Bunuan); the politically strident daughter of two dads, Logainne Schwartzandgrubenniere (Elizabeth Jaffe); smug, sloppy and respirationally challenged William Barfee (Jeffrey James Binney); and home-schooled eccentric Leaf Coneybear (Evan Williams).

Additionally, four audience members compete in the bee during the show's first half, with often-hilarious results. Choreographer Barb Cullen does a good job providing energetic movements that the audience members are nudged by the cast to join in on — but then, of course, they are also gently mocked for doing so.

Binney and Bunuan, both veterans of the national tour, do terrific work, not surprisingly; but early on opening night, Williams' smiling, offbeat Leaf became an audience favorite, and DeBruyne's performance of "Chip's Lament" is a show highlight. (With a nearly two-hour, intermissionless run time, "Lament" structurally acts as an unofficial intermission, in that Chip, eliminated from the bee, flings bake-sale treats into the crowd.)

Indeed, the cast is impressively tight overall, with little to no disparity between the professionals and non-professionals; and CT Hollis' three piece orchestra offers the best live accompaniment I've yet heard at Encore. Toni Auletti's set design effectively transformed the stage space into a gymnasium (though more fun might have been had with colorful school banners or posters, and a panel that opens twice in the show seemed a bit resistant to closing); and Daniel Fowler's light and sound design provided just the right accents.

Of course, the show's foundation (music and lyrics by William Finn, Tony Award-winning book by Rachel Sheinkin) is irresistibly fun and charming, so what's most needed is a strong director (Dan Cooney in this case) and a talented cast to execute it. Encore has both, succeeding with a production that has a winning, low-key style.

Those who have seen the show either on Broadway or on tour will notice that an additional actress appears as Olive's perpetually-absent mother for the heart-breakingly lovely "The I Love You Song," memorably performed by Schramm, DeBruyne, and Sonja Marquis. (The actress who plays bee moderator Rona Perretti normally doubles in the role of Olive's mom.) It's a minor adjustment, but it results in yet another show highlight.

Indeed, what's impressive about the show, and Encore's production, is that it has these moments of haunting emotional resonance that are all the more powerful for the comedy that surrounds them.

So the way to spell a good time at the theater in the near future is probably "E-N-C-O-R-E."

Jenn McKee is the entertainment digital journalist for AnnArbor.com. Reach her at jennmckee@annarbor.com or 734-623-2546, and follow her on Twitter @jennmckee.