‘Charlotte’s Web’ by E.B. White. Adapted by Joseph Robinette. Directed by Ilyse Robbins. Stage Management from Fanni Horváth. Music Composition from Dan Rodriguez. Scenic Design by Shelley Barish. Costume Design by Sophia Baramidze. Lighting Design by Isaak Olson. Props Design by Sarabeth Spector. ‘Charlotte’s Web’ runs from April 3rd – 26th at the Wheelock Family Theatre, 180 Riverway, Boston, MA 02215.
By Charlotte Snow
Along with the warm weather, Wheelock Family Theatre is ushering in the spring with their production of Charlotte’s Web. Closing out their 45th season, they’ve proven yet again why they have been such a successful and long-lasting company.
The story of Charlotte’s Web centers around a newborn, Wilbur, whose existence is constantly threatened due to him being a pig on a farm. In an effort to save his life, Charlotte the spider spins complimentary adjectives in her web describing Wilbur. As the pig’s fame grows, Charlotte’s health weakens. Along the way, both Wilbur and Charlotte forge a friendship that lasts a lifetime.
The script stays marvelously true to the book, often lifting exact word for word dialogue exchanges from the original source material. There are also moments of narration and choral soundscapes added in. They were fun but, due to the beauty and richness of Shelley Barish’s scenic design and Isaak Olson’s lighting design, it didn’t add any new information the audience couldn’t receive visually.
Technically this production was quite beautiful. I loved the choice to include compositions from Dan Rodriguez to accompany the entrances of several barnyard characters. Sophia Baramidze’s costumes were dynamic, able to swiftly shift with the doubling of actors. I also loved her use of textures like wool and feathers to portray the sheep and geese. Charlotte looked enough like a spider, but not enough to trigger any arachnophobia. Barish’s scenic design was playfully versatile, able to portray two farms and one state fair.
Anna Slate delivered a stand-out performance, capturing both the gentleness and ethereal nature of Charlotte. Her ballet as she was spinning the words into the web was beautifully executed.
All the amazing child actors filled in the roles of Fern, Avery, the three goslings, and the many surprisingly adorable spider babies. Their energy and presence are the lifeblood of Wheelock Family Theatre and truly makes it stand apart from all the other Boston area theatre companies.
If you are an adult with a small child, you will have a blast with Wheelock Family Theatre’s production of Charlotte’s Web. It’s bright, charming, and the story’s as timeless as you remember it. It may not have all the prose of the original book, or the darkness of the animated movie, but it has a lot of heart.
