Eudora Welty once wrote that: “As a piece of work it is just about perfect and just magical in the way it is done.” That’s a perfectly apt description of Playcrafters Barn Theatre’s current production of the adaptation of E. B. White’s Laura Ingalls Wilder Medal winner Charlotte’s Web, adapted for the stage by Joseph Robinette and directed by Erika Seabloom.
I’m going to go out on a limb here and assume that most of you – unlike me – have read the book and know that Wilbur is a pig saved from slaughter by the spider Charlotte who spins complimentary commentary about Wilbur into her web to inspire his owners to keep him alive even though doing so accelerates her own demise – the purest form of friendship.
What I find inspiring is that White chooses a spider, something we think of as spooky and icky, and makes her the heroine of saving a…pig. It’s a testament to White’s talent that he can make us sympathize with two of nature’s lowliest creatures.
To Seabloom’s credit she corrals this monumental cast of twenty, eleven of which are – shall we say…non-adults – and herds those chickens into a tight, well-paced production that is funny and poignant. However, I didn’t understand why she scrunched the entire cast in the proscenium area instead of spreading them out onto the thrust.
Heading up the cast as the self-sacrificing Charlotte is Emma Hanson. She imbues Charlotte with a sweet righteousness in her determination to save her new friend and her gyrations while spinning her web are one of the highlights of the show.
As the target of Charlotte’s affection, Wilbur, is Trevor Ives. Although this is Ives’ first ever appearance on stage he delivers his character with the ease of a well seasoned actor.
Also worth mentioning as the sleazy rat, Templeton, is Gabriel Thompson who lends the comic relief to the show with ease.
Kudos also go out to Costumer Hunter Greene for the clever dressing that suggest the animal characters, especially a pretty little lamb and to Kathy Graham and Mike Roberts and their crew for transforming the Barn Theatre to look like, well, a barn.
So grab the kids and/or grandkids and head on over to Playcrafters to take in this delightful show.
Charlotte’s Web continues at Playcrafters Barn Theatre, 4950 – 35th Avenue in Moline, Friday and Saturday, July 26 and 27 at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday, June 28 at 3:00 p.m.
I’m Chris Hicks…break a leg