The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee

As Bruce made reference to in his last post, while we were visiting his brother in Virginia we went to a play. The play tickets were part of our Christmas present. If we arrived early enough, we had a chance to be a part of the cast.
Of course.... I was in! I have only been in one play in my entire life, but I really wanted to make this one my second. I didn't even know what the play was called or what it was about, but that didn't sway me from signing up when we walked in the doors. 5 minutes before the play was supposed to start, the director asked if someone from our group would volunteer to be a part of the cast as well. I eagerly volunteered Bruce and he agreed. By this time, I figured that we would be asked to participate in a spelling bee. Although I am an English teacher, I sometimes struggle with spelling so I must admit that I was a little nervous; I didn't want to misspell a simple word. We were ushered into a separate room to receive "instruction." We were told 9 simple rules:
1) We were to sit in our normal seats in the stand, and they would actually call us down to the stage by name. Someone would point to where we were supposed to sit.
2) When it was time for our line, we needed to raise the microphone up to our mouths and do our best at spelling the word. We were not to miss a word on purpose to try and be funny.
3) We had two lines to memorize: "Can I have the definition please?" and "Will you use that in a sentence."
4) We were not to start up a conversation with any of the other actors or actresses on stage. They might miss their cue or something.
5) Even if we knew the songs, we were not to sing them. (It was a good thing they told us this because I kind of felt silly sitting on stage while everyone around me was singing. I may have tried to "pretend" I was singing the song too just to "fit in.")
6) We were to be escorted off by the grievance counselor when we spelled a word wrong.
7) We were still part of the audience even though we were on stage, so it is okay to clap.
8) You may have to sit still on the bleachers for up to 45 minutes. (This last rule almost made me want to say that I couldn't do it. Anyone who knows me knows I can't sit still for 45 minutes at a time, especially not on wooden benches.)
9) We may be asked to dance on stage so gear up for that.

The play began and I was super excited - here was my big debut. One of the actresses mentioned that 4 spellers had not yet registered for the spelling bee, and if they were somewhere in the audience to please come forward. She proceeded to call both my and Bruce's name.
The spelling contest began. The actors and actresses were getting some difficult words - this made me a little nervous because I figured I would be the first one out of the contest.

Bruce's first word was hoarfrost. When he asked for the definition and sentence, they were trying to trick him into spelling the word incorrectly. They wanted him to spell it whorefrost. Bruce was smarter than that.
Soon it was my turn.

Announcer: Mrs. Brittney Richards. Ms. Richards is currently writing an opera in braille. (Yes, they randomly made up facts about me) Your word is Cow!

The real cast was outraged that I would get such a simple word. I was laughing at what was going on around me and I almost forgot my lines. When I finally did remember them, I felt silly asking:
Brittney: Can you give me the definition please?
Announcer: A cow is a cow!
Brittney: Can you use it in a sentence please?
Announcer: Please spell the word cow.
Brittney: C-O-W Cow!
Announcer: That is correct.

One of the real cast members got out and they sang a song called "Life is pandemonium." For this song, we were instructed to get up and dance with them. We turned around in a circle in the middle of the stage and various other dance moves. It was real pandemonium.

Bruce's next word was Xanthippe which means an angry women. Bruce spelled it Z-A-N-T-H-I-P-P-Y. When he got out, the cast members sang him a song, gave him a juice box and a spelling bee participant ribbon, and he found his seat.

By this time, it was near the end of Act I and I was the last audience member still on stage.

Announcer: Ms. Brittney Richards. Ms. Richards got kicked out of the girl scouts for giving cookies away to the boys. Your word is Knochie.
Brittney: Can you give me the definition please?
Announcer: A Japanese decoration.
Brittney: Can you use it in a sentence please?
Announcer: My grandmother always used a knochie for her lamp.
Brittney: K-N-O-C-H-I-E
Announcer: That is correct!
When I returned to my seat, all of the actors and actresses told me great job! Then immediately...
Announcer: Brittney Richards. Please spell the word rhino________.
(This word was so bizarre that I don't even remember what it was).
Brittney: Can you give me the definition please?
Announcer: A word that has 6 silent letters.
Brittney: Can you use it in a sentence please?
Announcer: rhino_______ is nearly impossible to spell.
Brittney: I spelled rhino, then I started adding random letters (making sure some of them were silent)
Announcer: What is the last letter you used?
Brittney: e
Announcer: I'm sorry that is incorrect.

Drat! I was out. I was the last audience member to get out and was therefore given the opportunity to be serenaded on stage with the song "Prayer of the comfort counselor" It was kind of awkward to have a strange male serenade me on stage, call me a spelling babe, and tell me that I was the best speller. He then gave me a hug, a juice box, and a ribbon. I excited the stage and the auditorium because that was intermission.
When I was trying to look up the word Knochie in the dictionary before I wrote this post to make sure I remembered what he said for the definition; I couldn't find it anywhere. I am pretty sure that is how I spelled it, but it might be made up. Does anyone know for sure?

I found out later that the rhino____ word was made up. They needed to get me off stage. I wasn't even supposed to get the word before that correctly, but I did. I completely guessed at the spelling, but it must have matched what was in the script; otherwise I would have been escorted off after that word.

With this play, audience participation is a common thing. You can check it out at Wikipedia. I wasn't allowed to take any pictures - so you can't see me in action.
During intermission, other audience members asked me if I really was from the audience. They thought I was part of the cast and did a good job. It was really fun! I have thought about possibly seeing what community plays they are putting on here and trying out for them. Maybe my next calling is on stage.