South School students spin a tale

Teddy Tauscher, Andover Townsman, Mass.
·1 min read

Mar. 19—The audiences were caught in a web of imagination during three recent performances of a timeless classic.

The children of the South School Cooperative Theater undertook three shows of E.B. White's "Charlotte's Web" this month, which had been adapted for the stage.

"The children really rose to the challenges of Charles Strouse's complex music and tightly woven lyrics," volunteer Carolyn Finlay reported.

"For example, Charlotte (Narayani Govindarajan) expressed her role with elegance and nailed some tough solos with lovely high notes. The energetic Fern Arable (Farida Hamada) beautifully expressed passionate pleas to rescue the lovable and quite talented pig Wilbur (Jamie Esposito) from being made into bacon. A delightfully gluttonous rat Templeton (Nancy Butler) reluctantly lended a hand at critical moments, sending the audience into roars of laughter."

"Additional Arable and Zuckerman family members (Henry Bernardi, Esther Messinger, Nolan Tryder, Teddy Zrike, and Claire Cordio) pulled off similarly phenomenal performances, supported by helpful hired hands and a large host of adorable animals, lively townspeople, and charming county fair kids."

"Charlotte's Web" was first published in 1952.