Charlotte's Web

 

                                        

                                                     Ensemble Cast of Charlotte's Web

Arden’s Children Theatre is presenting its 4^th iteration of Charlotte’s Web on its F. Otto Haas main stage through January 29, 2023. It was adapted from E.B White's book by Joseph Robinette. Casie Girvin is a beautiful Charlotte and trained with the Philadelphia School of Circus Arts for this role. She makes her entrance into Wilbur the pig's barn by sliding upside down on silk scarves and then walking backwards like a spider followed by a few tumbles. She vows to save her friend’s Wilbur life. “If I can fool a bug, I can fool a man,” she muses and then spins “Some Pig” in her web. Of course it is seen as a miracle by Wilbur’s owner, and when it is replaced by “terrific, and “radiant,”  Mr. Zuckerburg decides to spare Wilbur's life and take him to the County Fair. The farm also has a  Goose and Gander who speak everything in triplicate and a rat who scavenges everywhere for bits to eat. Wilbur befriends all but his best friend is Charlotte who is works very hard to save him but becomes exhausted while doing so. When she spins a sack with over 500 eggs and tells Wilbur she will die before they are hatched, Wilbur promises to watch over them. Wilbur ends by contemplating that “It isn’t often that someone comes along who is a good friend and a good writer. Charlotte was both.” This is a show that can be enjoyed by audiences of all ages. The young children present asked very serious questions of the actors. My 14 year-old granddaughter, who had seen the show in 2018, really enjoyed it, and I thought the performance was very well done.  Tickets may be purchased at the Arden Box Office or online at ardentheatre.org.