Anne Roaldi and R.J. Voltz in "The Secret Garden" at Theatre of Youth

Even with nine shows on the boards this week and Studio Arena flailing for survival, conversation was, at least for a moment, dominated by talk of actor and Kavinoky Theatre managing director Steve Cooper’s nightmarish legal woes. The first rumors began to circulate when the Kavinoky Theatre abruptly called on Paul Todaro to replace Cooper as juror number three in their current production of the Reginald Rose play, Twelve Angry Men. Soon, however, the mystery behind this switch was solved when the Amherst police confirmed to the Buffalo News that Cooper had been “charged with second-degree sexual abuse in the inappropriate touching of an 11-year-old girl in late November.”

That was a lot for people who know Steve Cooper to process. The article was accompanied by a photo that looked more like one of the characters Cooper has played than like the man so many of us know personally. Indeed, the entire report seemed to explode with journalistic overkill, the sort usually reserved for higher profile celebrities.

Initial reaction among theater folk seems to have been a unanimous “Say it ain’t so!” Then came the more complex and introspective individual responses ranging from “This is impossible!” to “There must be some misunderstanding,” to broader philosophical and societal questions about “What happens to a family when someone is accused of a crime,” to “Have you ever been accused of something you didn’t do?” And then, the reluctant but inevitable speculation, “Might this be true in any detail?” as local actors scrutinized the meager details offered in a newspaper article that focused more on Cooper’s Kavinoky connection than on the human element of the situation.

What the theater community might not have anticipated from its generally narcissistic citizens is the depth of loyalty to one of their own. Whatever happens in this sad story—a story in which it seems everyone must end a loser—Steve Cooper will have steadfast friends at the conclusion.

Theater people understand narrative and can quickly recognize a story that has major details missing. Particulars of what happened in this one may never be known. Still, people of the theater community feel that they do know Steve Cooper, and whether he has erred or is being persecuted, there is a sense of resolve to support him. Essentially, everyone just wishes this weren’t happening.

THE 25TH ANNUAL PUTNAM COUNTY SPELLING BEE

The touring production of the Broadway hit musical, The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, is currently at Shea’s. The intimate show about children (played by adults) who compete in a high-pressure spelling bee actually plays quite successfully in the huge Shea’s space. The cast of this delightfully cynical yet heartwarming musical is very strong, with Roberta Duchak a stand-out as the host and former champion, and James Kall giving an appealing rendition of the disturbed vice principal.

Justin Keyes is very engaging as Chip Tolentino, the boy who makes a mistake when he’s distracted by his “unfortunate erection.” Vanessa Ray projects wonderful vulnerability and heart as Olive Ostrovsky. Andrew Keenan-Bolger (brother of Broadway’s original Olive, Celia Keenan-Bolger) gives a wonderfully quirky performance as Leaf Coneybear, the boy who never thought he was smart. Katie Boren is wonderfully affecting as Marcy Park, the inevitable Asian wunderkind who objects to being thought of as “all business.” Kevin Smith Kirkwood gives a scary edge to comfort counselor Mitch Mahoney. In two roles designed to shine, Eric Roediger as William Barfee and Dana Steingold as Logainne Schwartzandgrubennierre do.

Spelling Bee is adult entertainment, not for small children—though perhaps for young teenagers in the company of adults. The show is in town through Sunday.

ALSO THIS WEEK…

Children in your world might enjoy the current Theater of Youth production of the children’s classic, The Secret Garden. It is being performed at the Allendale Theatre.

Also ongoing this week is Matthew LaChiusa’s Axeman’s Jazz, a story set in New Orleans during the time of a historically real serial killer. The play, which was impressive in a strong staged reading during the Infringement Festival, is being performed at Rust Belt Books.

Again, not for children (or anyone under 18 for that matter—i.e. male nudity, albeit fleeting) is Douglas Carter Beane’s recent New York hit, The Little Dog Laughed, with Caitlin Coleman as Diane, the Hollywood agent from hell—the role that won Julie White a Tony. Diane is determined to keep her up-and-coming movie star client in the closet, a goal that becomes complicated when the guy falls in love with a hustler. The Buffalo United Artists production is playing at the Alleyway Theatre.

There is a happy buzz about the Irish Classical Theatre’s production of Carlo Goldoni’s The Servant of Two Masters at the Andrews Theatre.

O’Connell & Company has populated their production of Steel Magnolias with some of the region’s most appealing actresses, under the direction of Mary Moebius.

This is the season of Sweeney Todd, it would seem, and MusicalFare remounts this show with John Fredo and Lisa Ludwig as the demon barber and his adoring landlady.

Buffalo adores Clifford Odets. With his sensitivity to working people, I swear we have more productions of his plays than any other community, per capita, on earth. Waiting for Lefty makes a return under the auspices of the Subversive Theatre Collective in association with the New Phoenix Theatre, directed by Kurt Schneiderman.

And finally, Twelve Angry Men, ever a crowd-pleaser, is up at the Kavinoky. In addition to the aforementioned Paul Todaro, the angry guys include Christian Brandjes, John Buscaglia, Louis Colaiacovo, Don Gervasi, Peter Jaskowiak, Phil Knoerzer, Gerry Maher, Jim Maloy, Steve Nassif, Norm Sham, Guy Wagner and Doug Weyand. Brian Cavanagh directed the production.