SPELLING BEE and Children

Would THE 25th ANNUAL PUTNUM COUNTY SPELLING BEE work with children performing the roles, rather than adults?

Explain your answer.

Updated On: 5/20/05 at 10:53 PM

Hm. I don't know if the show would decline in quality if the kids were played by kids, but it probably would feel different. It isn't a bad show for schools, I think, outside of a song that used to fall right after intermission. :)

I agree with emcee. I think Spelling Bee isn't a children's show. Actually, I think it means much more to the adults than it does to the children who are there- and there are children there, both times I went there were children in the audience. Its something about almost, looking back on your childhood experiences. If you're looking at a child playing the role, its different than if you're looking at an adult when you're an adult yourself. Its almost as if you identify with it more because here are people who are obviously adults reaching back into a situation where children are. There's a character in that show for everyone to identify with on some level and because you know in your own mind that the children reflect yourself and everyone else around you its an attraction to the parts. If you have children playing the roles it just becomes a cute little story about a spelling bee and its not as poignant because it doesn't hit home as much for the adult (read: primary) audience.

---

No, spelling Bee would not be performed well with children, simply because they are character actors, and young people do not have the ability to pull the humor and characters off the way these experienced actors do. Also, I do not want to hear a child singing about his "Erection".

Yes, Spelling Bee is a musical - Every "child" has a solo song, and there are two major group numbers, along with the 'Goodbyes" that I can't get out of my head. I cannot WAIT for this recording.

---

Once the rights to this show become available for schools, it will become one hot ticket! Its a family friendly, really wonderful, simple show that CAN be performed by children IMO.

Schools are going to leap on this show.