The run of The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee is off to an A-M-A-Z-I-N-G start, with packed houses and rave reviews from The Vancouver Sun, The Georgia Straight and many others. But who are these spellers? Today we take you up close and personal to learn a little bit more….
The spellers:
William Barfée (Josh Epstein): A Putnam County Spelling Bee finalist last year, he was eliminated because of an allergic reaction to peanuts. His famous “Magic Foot” method of spelling has boosted him to spelling glory, even though he only has one working nostril and a touchy personality. He has an often-mispronounced last name: it is Bar-FAY, not BARF-ee. There’s an accent aigu!
Leaf Coneybear (Jeremy Crittenden): The second runner-up in his district, Leaf gets into the competition on a
lark: the winner and first runner-up had to go to the first runner-up’s Bat Mitzvah. Leaf comes from a large family of former hippies and makes his own clothes.
Olive Ostrovsky (Tracy Neff): A young newcomer to competitive spelling. Her mother is in an ashram in India, and her father is working late, as usual, but he is trying to come at some time during the bee.
Logainne Schwartzandgrubenierre (Alison MacDonald): Logainne is the youngest and most politically aware
speller, often making comments about current political figures, with two overbearing gay men as parents. She is a bit of a neat freak and speaks with a lisp.
Chip Tolentino (Vincent Tong): A boy scout and champion of the 24th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, he returns to defend his title, but he finds puberty hitting at an inopportune moment.
Marcy Park (Rosie Simon): A recent transfer from Virginia, Marcy placed 9th in last year’s nationals. She speaks
six languages (French, Spanish, Japanese, Russian, Hebrew, and German), attends a Catholic school called “Our Lady of Intermittent Sorrows” and is not allowed to cry.
The adults:
Rona Lisa Peretti (Sara-Jeanne Hosie): The #1 Realtor in Putnam County, a former Putnam County Spelling Bee Champ and returning moderator. Ms. Peretti herself won the third spelling bee by spelling syzygy.
Vice Principal Douglas Panch (Brian Linds): After five years’ absence from the Bee, Panch returns as judge. There was an “incident” at the 20th Annual Bee, but he claims to be in “a better place” now, thanks to a high-fiber diet and Jungian analysis.
Mitch Mahoney (Michael Blake): The Official Comfort Counselor. An ex-convict, Mitch is performing his community service with the Bee, and hands out juice boxes to losing students.
