I love To spell I like it a lot!

On Saturday Night I attended the La Mirada Performing Art's 25th Annual Putnam Spelling Bee and Love IT. What feel good comedy to brighten up any one's day. The show centers around a group of kids that are competing in a spelling bee. The kids all are dealing all sorts of problems from the awkwardness of adolescences, to parental issues, to accepting failure. The cool thing about the show is that it is interactive. They bring up four audience members to make up the rest of the spelling bee competitors. At first I was worried that the audience were going to be part of the show but each person that was selected did such a great job of working with the actors that it worked.

The cast was great and played off each other so well. Laura Griffith played Rona Lisa Peretti a former spelling bee champ who has come back to help co-host the event. Chip Tolentino is a boy scott who won the bee the previous year was played by the very funny Tom Zohar. Logainne Schwartzandgrubenierre (played by the brilliant Cassie Silva) is a young girl who has no problem being different has two very supportive gay dads. Brett Ryback played Leaf Coneybear who is a home school kid who is just weird. Leaf was my favorite character and made the audience fall in love with him. Daniel Tatar played William Barfee, the kid allergic to everything but who had a magic spelling foot. Marcy Park (played by Lana Mckissack) is the girl who can do everything, but is still wants more. Olive Ostrovsky (played by Shanon Mari Mills) is a young girl obsessed with the dictionary. The great Jason Graae played Vice Principal Douglas Panch who had the best one liners in the play. Lastly Melvin Abston played Mitch Mahoney a man doing his community service at the Bee (but with a heart of gold).

The only regret I have about the show is that I did not see it sooner to recommend to you. The show ended this past weekend but if there is another production of this show in a town near you it is a must see!!!

"I love To spell I like it a lot!"- Lyrics from I'm Not That Smart-song from 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee.