Some Pig! Some Play!

‘Charlotte’s Web’ all about friendship

"Charlotte's Web" might appear to be a fairy tale about a spider and a pig.

Mark Landon Smith, executive director of Arts Live Theatre, says it's much more than that.

FAQ

‘Charlotte’s Web’

WHEN — 7 p.m. today, 2 & 7 p.m. Saturday, 2 p.m. Sunday

WHERE — Arts Live Theatre’s Second Stage, 818 N. Sang Ave. in Fayetteville

COST — $6-$8

INFO — 521-4932

"It is, in a sense, a fantasy piece, and you can be very creative with it," Smith says. "But what we're focusing on is friendship."

Written by E.B. White, "Charlotte's Web" was published in 1952 as a children's book, and the script dates back to the 1980s. Smith's first reaction was to make the show his own, as he has so many others, but the Joseph Robinette adaptation is the only one theater companies are allowed to use.

And he's fine with that.

"With something like this, which is so iconic, you have to be true to the original," he says.

Under the direction of Jason Suel, the show will represent the characters of Wilbur the pig and Charlotte the spider with costume clues, but Smith is counting on the actors' love for theater to bring the story to life.

Actors and technicians agree they've learned that passion -- and more -- working with the Fayetteville theater company. Olivia Moore, 14, is the show's stage manager, a new job for her.

"Jason believes in me and supports me in doing tech," she says. "So because he thinks I can, so do I.

"I used to be very shy," she adds. "I wasn't very good with people. So I thought about doing theater because it really helps you get out of your shell. I tried Arts Live, and my very first play was directed by Jason. Now I love to talk and be with people."

"Theater has completely transformed who I am as a person and as a performer," Haley Self agrees. "And Jason is one of my favorite people in the world."

Self, the 14-year-old actress playing Fern Arable, agrees the play reflects what young people learn presenting it.

"It's about the importance of friendship and having someone you can trust."

-- Becca Martin-Brown

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NAN What's Up on 06/20/2014

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