William Morris Barfée here — pronounced Bar-FAY. PLEASE note the accent aigu. Welp, the bee is underway, and here I am. Checking out the competition. Eating my M&M’s (the brown ones) and taking my breathing treatment.
My real mom, Joan, said I’m the best looking gentleman in the bee! After last year’s mishap, though…I have a lot to prove. If only the moderators would say my name correctly. There’s nothing that burns my Bunsen more than hearing vice-principal Douglas Paunch mispronounce my name. 
I don’t think he cares. He seems to be WAY too focused on Miss Rona Peretti. I heard that Miss Peretti won the 3rd Annual Spelling Bee! She’s OLD! The competition this year is more fierce than last, but it’s nothing I can’t handle.
The Competition
If there’s ANYONE that I would like to take down, it’s Chip Tolentino and Marcy Park. They were both at nationals last year.
NATIONALS!
They both seem to have studied hard. Marcy is all business, and she doesn’t let any word phase her. And Chip walks around like he owns the bee. He thinks just because he won last year that he can’t be taken down. I’ll show him, Star Log. I’ll show him!
Then there’s that weird Leaf Coneybear. I don’t even think he studied, but he seems to luck out with his words. I guess being home schooled gives you more time to prepare.
Pesky Girls
And there’s these two other girls who think they can take it all. Logainne SchwartzandGrubinierre may be the youngest, but she seems to be the most focused. She thinks by writing the word on her forearm before spelling it, she’ll win every time. But her arm has NOTHING on my magic foot.
Then there’s that Olive Ostrovsky pest. I don’t know which school she represents, but she may be my biggest threat here. It’s always the quiet ones you have to watch out for. She may seem sweet and shy on the outside, but inside…I can see a bloodthirsty speller!
Excitement
There are four other spellers, too…but I have a feeling they won’t be ANY competition at all.
Nothing brings me more joy than to watch the LOSERS get escorted out, one by one, by the comfort counselor, Mitch Mahoney. I don’t know how he got this gig. He seems a little rough around the edges.
I guess the thing that excites me most is not knowing how the bee will turn out! Of course you can prepare and prepare all year…but at the end of the day, am I really good enough or not? Wish me luck! I hear the grand prize is a two hundred dollar savings bond. That will go a LONG way!
Until next time!
Captain William Morris Barfée of the U.S.S. Anemone
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Find out what happens to Barfée and the other spellers at The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee. Learn more about Theatre Huntsville by:
Event Information:
25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee
Dates and Times:
- July 12 – 13 & 18 – 20 at 7:30 p.m.
- July 14 & 20 at 2:00 p.m.
Location: Von Braun Center Playhouse
Cost: $20 adults; $18 students, seniors (65+), active/retired military
Purchase Tickets: Online via the Theatre Huntsville website or by calling the Theatre Huntsville Box Office at 256-536-0807
Note: This show is recommended for Teens & Adults for Language, Adult themes
Ticket Giveaway
Enter to win a pair of tickets to see Theatre Huntsville’s production of 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee. Two winners will be chosen; one to attend the opening night show and another to attend any night.
About the Author
Christopher K. Carter portrays William Barfee in Theatre Huntsville’s production of 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee and is thrilled to be returning to the Theatre Huntsville stage after a one year absence. In his real life, Christopher works for Xerox/BCBS in Huntsville, and enjoys thrifting, geocacheing, movies and collecting cast albums. Favorite past roles include James Lingk in Glengarry Glenn Ross and Eddie/Dr. Scott in The Rocky Horror Show (RT), Willy Loman in Death of a Salesman and Henry II in The Lion in Winter ( Snead State Community College in Boaz), and John Adams in 1776, Jack in Into the Woods, and Tito Mirelli in Lend Me a Tenor (TWBS).
Guest blogger for We Are Huntsville. Are you interested in writing a post for our site? Email katelyn@wearehuntsville.com.
