Charlotte's Web

Editorial

17-25 Apr '09
The Courtyard Studio - Canberra Theatre Centre
Civic Square, Canberra

One day as author E.B. White crossed his New England farm to feed his pig, a dreaded thought occurred to him: this poor animal only existed so that he could one day be killed. As White pondered over ways in which a pig's life might be saved, he marvelled at the magnificent designs a spider was producing in its web. Thus inspiration for Charlotte's Web, his "story of friendship and salvation on a farm", was born.

The tale of Wilbur the young pig and his eight-legged friend Charlotte is well known and has been well enjoyed over the last half-century; so much so that the Children's Literature Association considers it "the best American children's book of the past two hundred years".

After escaping being put down at birth, Wilbur has made a life for himself on Zuckerman farm. He is frequently visited by his owner, eight-year-old Fern, and has made friends with the resident spider, Charlotte. When it is understood he is only going to live until he becomes Christmas dinner, Charlotte starts letting everyone in on what a special guy he is by weaving some highly complimentary webs.

Playwright Joseph Robinette worked under the guidance of White when writing the stage adaptation of this children's classic, which comes to Canberra thanks to Free-Rain Theatre.

Kilian David