Review: 'Charlotte's Web' by Landmark Community Theatre

Dedicated to one of my students that is aptly named Charlotte

“Salutations”

Thomaston, CT - Landmark Community Theatre is presenting CHARLOTTE’S WEB this weekend only at the historic Thomaston Opera House. The four performances for the public are Saturday, October 19 at 1pm and 4pm and Sunday, October 20 at 1pm and 4pm. Admission is only $10.50.

This reviewer was given the honor of being invited to preview the production at a school performance so that I could post a review in time for the weekend performances. I shared the second performance of the day with a house full of elementary students from Thomaston and their teachers; the young students enjoyed what for some might have been their first live performance of their lives.

CHARLOTTE’S WEB is a full-length play presented with one intermission that fit neatly into two hours, and for the vast majority of the students, it was just enough. The play was, of course, adapted from the beloved book by E.B. White and was written by Joseph Robinette. The setting is “the present and the past” on the Arable’s Farm and in the Zuckerman Barn until after intermission when we move to the Country Fair and back to the Barn.

“The Children’s Literature Association named Charlotte’s Web “the best American children’s book of the past two hundred years...This story unfolds gracefully as our narrators warmly welcome all to this timeless tale. The gentle story-telling give way to memorable characters that engage both adults and children as themes of friendship, adversity and loss are explored simultaneously in their simplicity, and complexity.” - Director Gary Kingsbury in his director’s letter in the printed program

Juan Cardona made it back from a trip in time to entertain the young attendees with music on the venerable Opera House organ; many of the students couldn’t believe their young ears as their teachers led them to their seats. It was so kind of Mr. Cardona to share his music with the students and he will graciously be on hand to do so for the upcoming public performances. Try to arrive early enough to catch as much of the prelude as you possibly can.

Most of the Thomaston students at this matinee raised their hands that they were familiar with the classic book, thanks to their teachers, no doubt, and were thus prepared for some of the more sophisticated portions.The children watched with delight at the characters tried to catch Wilbur the pig around the Opera House; keep your feet out of the aisles for your own safety during this scene.

“I offer my gratitude to the teens and children in the show for their energy and innocence, and the adults for their experience and maturity.” - Director Gary Kingsbury

Director Gary Kingsbury worked with forty adults and young performers that made up the cast. Kudos to all of the cutest little ones in the ensemble, most of them making their LCT debut, and those that were slightly older. Narrators Lewis B. Mills HS freshman Allison Coney (THE MIRACLE WORKER, CHRISTMAS EVE AT EARLENE’S DINER at 7A,) Grace Pinkerton (IT’S A WONDERFUL LIFE at LCT, THE MUSIC MAN, MARY POPPINS at Blessed Sacrament Children’ Theatre) and Phebe Seppa (MATILDA) commanded attention as they told the story in complimentary checked dresses topped with white shrugs. Julian Alena (THE MIRACLE WORKER) commanded a great flash effect when she took photos with an old-fashioned camera as the Photographer, as well as playing a Fairgoer. Nonnewaug freshman Clara Pizzolorusso (THE MUSIC MAN, MARY POPPINS with BSCT) played a reporter and Fairgoer.

Michele Alicky, a talented flute pit musician, was perfectly motherly as Mrs. Arable in her stage debut, the mother of Fern, who was charmingly performed by Avery Johnston, a sixth grade student at Bristow Middle School. Mr. Arable was played well by Rich Henderson (ELF at LCT.) It was a treat for me to see producer and Landmark “guy in charge” Jeff Dunn on the stage in the role of the farmer Homer Zuckerman; I was very impressed with his performance of role that he has played two other times. Jean Henry also reprised her role as Edith Zuckerman, and was Mr. Dunn’s perfect foil.

Jullian Buckley was serenely beautiful as the talented spider Charlotte; this actress returns to the TOH stage after seven years and thanks her fourth grade teacher who cast her in this role “many moons ago.” Eric Canfield (Huey in MEMPHIS, STEEL PIER at WAMS) was the perfect choice for the role of “some pig” Wilbur. Jonah Lopez began the story as the young Wilbur and then returned as a young Fairgoer. John Spagnolo had the perfect voice for the role of the country fair announcer.

Susie Hackel (THE ADVENTURES OF PETER COTTONTAIL, ELF, SISTER ACT) was a riot as the stuttering Gussy, Gussy, Gussy the Goose and Bruce Miller (1776, OKLAHOMA) tried to keep up as her Gander. Lucas Peck (TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD) was a lamb with Judy Sullivan (A CHRISTMAS STORY) as a wise sheep. Jake Totten (MATILDA, A CHRISTMAS CAROL at Hartford Stage) made us laugh as young farmhand Avery and eighth grade student Liam Duffy did the same as Lurvy and the sunglasses-wearing pig named “Uncle.” And kudos to the marvelous Payton Turpin (HAPPY ELF, RING OF FIRE) for spicing up the role of Templeton the (always hungry) Rat.

The blue ribbon for the most wonderful costume goes to Ms. Hackel as Gussy the Goose, although all of the human and barnyard animal costumes designed by Ash Royer were very well done. The ensemble members is their gosling getups and their baby spider legs were simply adorable.

The lighting for the performance designed by Harrison Woodworth was especially appealing, most memorably for the fireworks and the video content by Steve Blaise held the children spellbound as the gifted spider spun her magical webs. I heard “So beautiful” the first time it happened. The set designed by David Verdosci that transformed from a county fair to the barn by folding in upon itself worked perfectly.

Nancy Sasso Janis, writing theatre reviews since 2012 as a way to support local venues, posts well over 100 reviews each year. In 2016, her membership in the Connecticut Critics Circle began and her contributions of theatrical reviews, previews, and audition notices are posted not only in the Naugatuck Patch but also on the Patch sites closest to the venue. Follow the reviewer on her Facebook pages Nancy Sasso Janis: Theatre Reviewer and Connecticut Theatre Previews and on Twitter @nancysjanis417 Check out the NEW CCC Facebook page.Click here to read about Naugatuck/Bethwood Patch Mayor Nancy Sasso Janis.