Don't worry -- you don't have to know the meaning of eleemosynary, sortilege or ungulate to enjoy this comedy/drama, which centres on a young spelling bee champion and her complicated relationship with her mother and grandmother.

This new Winnipeg troupe puts on a powerful and poignant performance of a play by award-winning American Lee Blessing.

Jane Burpee steals every scene as grandma Dorothea, a strong-willed eccentric who attempts to communicate with the dead, levitate above the ground and find a way to see through the earth.

Nan Fewchuck plays her brilliant but damaged daughter and Lindsay Chochinov is superb as the sweet and saucy granddaughter who becomes obsessed with spelling words to hide her pain.

Director Veralyn Warkentin has put together a tight and smoothly paced production that is sweet, touching and highly amusing at the same time.