Cardinal Stage weaves web at MCPL

A fictional farmyard classic has come to life in Bloomington.

A special preview of Cardinal Stage Company’s adaption of the 1952 children’s classic, “Charlotte’s Web,” graced the auditorium stage at the Monroe County Public Library Saturday.

A modest set displayed three wooden crates and a pillow on the stage floor, but director Randy White challenged the audience to help the actors transform the room into a “magical scene.”

“Imagine a huge red barn behind us,” White said as he introduced the show to a full house. “For the next half-hour we’re all going down to the farm.”
The preview featured three short scenes and starred only seven actors, sometimes playing several roles. The presentation was simple, but the audience of all ages seemed convinced as the room was filled with laughter, gasps and enthusiastic rounds of clapping.

Costumes were also simple. Wilbur, the pig star of the story, was simply an actor wearing costume pig ears and a pink hoodie, and “geese” wore vests covered with down feathers. “Spider” Charlotte was decked out in black boas. Despite the simplicity, children recognized each animal aloud and pointed them out to parents.

White said that getting an audience to react to actors as animals can be a challenge.
“With such a young age group, you really have to enhance the animal part of the character,” White said. “But there’s a sensitive balance you have to find, because the actors still have to be recognizable and relatable to the children.”

But acting and costumes aren’t the only things to receive special adjustment in a performance geared toward a younger audience. White said timing is especially sensitive.

“Children have a short attention span, so stage time much more after an hour becomes kind of dangerous,” White said.

After the half-hour show was over, some parents watched as their children created spider webs of their own with yarn, markers and paper plates. Some checked out spider-related books that were on display.

Nicole Shields, a mother of two boys, said she enjoyed the show. “It’s a good tale of friendship,” Shields said. “A spider and a pig are unlikely to become friends, and it’s a good representation of how a lot of friendships are formed in the real world.”

MCPL Children’s Services Coordinator Lisa Champelli said she agreed that friendship and other real-life issues are what make “Charlotte’s Web” such a timeless story.

“The challenge of making new friends, the lengths you go to protect them, family conflicts and even death are important issues discussed in ‘Charlotte’s Web,’” Champelli said. “They’re themes that resonate with all people, and they’re important lessons to be learned.”

The full-length production will take place at the Ivy Tech John Waldron Arts Center, June 8-23. Visit cardinalstage.org for more information.