Shakespeare Bee

Watching young nerds squirm over the correct way to spell the word pococurante (an indifferent or apathetic person) can be as thrilling as an Olympic speed-skating race. Both events include a combination of hard work, raw talent and drama as competitors vie for glory and hardware. The Olympics are over, and it’s not yet spelling-bee season, but what’s going on this afternoon at the Plaza Branch of the Kansas City Public Library (4801 Main) promises a similar sort of high-stakes excitement. During the English Speaking Union’s Annual Shakespeare Competition, local high school students interpret works by William Shakespeare for a chance to represent Kansas City later this year in New York. At that level, the grand prize is a full-tuition scholarship to the British American Drama Academy’s Midsummer Conservatory Program in Oxford, England, an honor sure to inspire what the Bard called “shuddering fear, and green-eyed jealousy” among some nervous contestants who already know that pococurantes need not apply. The dramatic performances begin at 2 p.m. To see the action, RSVP at 816-701-3407 or kclibrary.org.

Sun., Feb. 28, 2 p.m., 2010