Young cast brings special touch to 'Charlotte's Web'

The stage is set with laundry on the line, a cow in the barn and a spider web hanging in the rafters. Cousin P-U welcomes the audience to the final dress rehearsal of E.B. White's "Charlotte's Web. All of us in the audience are old enough to have grandchildren, so maybe we appreciate even more the hard work that these young people have put into preparing their lines and their costumes and developing their characters to share with us. Right from the start, Fern (played by Shayd Williams) is there to stand up for the runt pig and by mutual agreement between Fern and the pig, he is named Wilbur (played by Grace Terry). This is one pig with a tail wiggling attitude. Wilbur came make you laugh and groan and I must admit that in the final goodbye between Wilbur and Charlotte (played by Jessica Decocq), my eyes teared up a bit.

Fern stands by her friend when it is time for Wilbur to be sold and the plot is then on to save the pig.

An array of barnyard animals play their parts to the max, but it is Templeton, the rat, (played by Finean Williams) that kept me wondering "what will he do next?" Even after the production was over, Templeton was still in character and finding that the snack table was "A Rat's Paradise."

You all know the story. We've all read it, but seeing it through the eyes of children makes you think all over again about friendship, learning to trust one another, relying on others when there is a need, warm hearts, being special, radiant, terrific and humble, looking for miracles, saving someone's bacon, being brave, carrying on in life, and never forgetting anyone that we have come to love even when they have to die.

As Wilbur said to Charlotte: "Friendship is one of the most satisfying things in the world."

I hope you will ask a friend to come with you to one of the shows. Charlotte's Web will be presented today through April 11 and April 14-18. It is a dinner (pork of course or beef if you must) show. Ticket prices are $15 for adults and $7.50 for children or buy a season pass and save dollars. Dinner is at 6:30, show starts at 7 p.m., except on Sundays, when dinner is at 2:30 p.m. and the show starts at 3 o'clock. You don't want to miss the Comedy Tonight Family Theater. Sponsors for Charlotte's Web are the Osage Prairie RV Park and the Nine Patch Quilt & Fabrics.

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