Sweet Home High School to perform 'Charlotte's Web'
by JILL SCHMELZER Reporter

Timothy Corner, left, plays the part of "Wilbur" in Sweet Home High School's production of "Charlotte's Web." He is shown rehearsing with Andrea Gollhardt, "Fern" and Kelsey Mogensen, "Charlotte." Photo by John Rusac

E.B. White's book "Charlotte's Web" is a story of friendship, hope and salvation. It is about a pig's will to live and a spider's wisdom that shows him the meaning of life.

The paperback has become one of the top-selling children's books of all time and was made into a play.

Students at Sweet Home High School have taken this simple yet challenging plot and will perform it at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Dec. 1 and at 2 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, Dec. 2 and 3 in the auditorium, at 1901 Sweet Home Road, Amherst.

The director, Lona LaChiusa, said she chose the production because she has young performers who are better able to understand the role of the characters.

"I think of him as a 5-year-old," said senior Timothy Corner of the pig character Wilbur, whom he portrays. "He is thrust into this world and forced to learn life lessens."

When Wilbur's life is threatened on the farm, he is propelled by his will to live, said Corner. He turns to Charlotte, a spider, who has become Wilbur's friend and mentor.

Charlotte, portrayed by junior Kelsey Mogensen, is the mother figure on the farm. She is very wise and takes it upon herself to teach Wilbur about friendship and life, Mogensen said.

Many of the actors face the challenge of portraying animals and using their bodies to express emotion. Others use puppetry and use only sections of their bodies as opposed to their whole bodies to express the character's emotions, LaChiusa said.

Mogensen said she has been challenged throughout the rehearsal process because she can only use one arm where her spider character is perched.

Wilbur's character is silent in many of the scenes, so Corner said he has had to learn how to use his physical presence to express what the pig is feeling at that moment in time.

"It's a straightforward sweet story," said LaChiusa, noting the play has taught the student actors how to tell a simple story well.

Tickets cost $4 presale and $6 at the door. Visit www.sweethomeschools. com, for more information.