REVIEW: Charlotte's Web Weaves A Tale of True Friendship at CPA

                        

Once again, the Center for Puppetry Arts has taken a simple children's story and transformed it into a delightful, heartwarming play that happens to use puppets as the main characters. It's the tale of how everyone’s favorite spider, Charlotte A. Cavatica, saved Wilbur the pig by using her wits, words, and webs. 

Along with some very lovable humans like eight-year-old Fern who raised Wilbur, her uncle Homer Zuckerman, and his farm helper, we met some of the barnyard’s most colorful residents. After the old sheep "spilled the beans" about why the farmer really wanted to fatten Wilbur up, Templeton, the gluttonous rat, was instrumental in helping Charlotte with the plot to save Wilbur's life.  Goose and Gander were hysterical as they wobbled their long necks, repeating everything three times as their seven precious little goslings waddled along in unison behind them. Charlie laughed and laughed when Wilber tried to run away as the farmer and his helper wildly chased him around the barn and he loved seeing the fireworks at the fair.

                                     
The sets moved seamlessly from barn to county fair and the puppeteers were so talented that one truly forgot that the puppets were not really alive. Although the story touched on many real emotions such as loneliness and fear, the enduring message is that when friends work together to overcome adversity, they bring joy to the lives of others. 

After the show, we went upstairs to the Create-A-Puppet Workshop, which is included with admission, to make a Gabby Goose Rod Puppet to remember our barnyard adventure!
                                             

We all enjoyed this show and think your family will also. In the words of Gander, Charlie said that Charlotte's Web was "terrific, terrific, terrific"!!

Adapted by Joseph Robinette and directed by Jon Ludwig, Charlotte’s Web was performed by skilled puppeteers Amy Sweeney, Dolph Amick, Nikolas Carleo, Anna Caudle, and Brian Harrison. The show features Czech Black and rod puppetry and is designed for ages 4 and up.  All of the puppets, props, and scenery bring the iconic illustrations from the book to life on stage and were created onsite by the Center for Puppetry Arts’ talented staff.

PERFORMANCES:
 September 19 - October 22

·         Wednesday- Friday: 10 a.m. & 11:30 a.m.      

·         Saturday: 1 p.m. & 3 p.m.

·         Sunday: 1 p.m. & 3 p.m.

TICKETS:

Tickets are $9.75 (Members) and $19.50 (nonmembers) – plus sales tax and include admission to the show, the Worlds of Puppetry Museum (with the largest collection of Jim Henson puppets and artifacts in the world as well as a Global Gallery), and entrance to the Create-A-Puppet Workshop™. Tickets can be purchased online at www.puppet.org or by calling 404.873.3391. 

                                   
On our way to the car, the kids were delighted to discover Tiny Door #11! View all the doors at the Tiny Doors ATL website and see how many you can find around town! 
             
We ended Charlie's big day out with a mandatory stop at The Varsity! Katie loves their Fried Peach Pies, but when Charlie was asked, "what'll you have, what'll you have", he promptly replied, "a naked dog, rings and a FO!" (For non-Atlantans, that translates to a plain hot dog, onion rings and a Frost Orange!)