It’s a popular children’s book that most people are well familiar with.
Next month, a play adaption of it will grace the stage of the Permian Playhouse.
From April 22-May 1, Permian Playhouse will present “Charlotte’s Web” as part of its children’s show.
The play is based on E.B. White’s children’s book, which has been considered a classic for over 60 years now and is one of the bestselling children’s books of all time.
The play version will be brought to life, telling the story of a barn spider named Charlotte and her friendship with a pig named Wilbur.
Directed by 446th District Judge Sara Kate Billingsley, the cast features 35 children all ranging from pre-K to high school.
Permian sophomore Hope Joyce plays the lead role of Charlotte the spider who builds the webs and writes the words in them to help save Wilbur’s life.
“What I like about Charlotte specifically, is that she’s very motherly and very grown up and as a teenage girl, I usually get cast in the younger roles,” Joyce said. “So playing this very mature, very motherly role is really fun to expand my range.”
In addition to doing theater both at the Permian Playhouse and at Permian High School, Joyce also participates in high school choir.
She’s been involved with Permian Playhouse for eight years now and has done about 10 plays.
“I enjoy that it is community theater and that I get to meet other people that have the same interests as me,” Joyce said. “It’s fun to have this community of other theater kids in my area.”
Playing the role of the antihero rat named Templeton is another veteran of the Permian Playhouse — Sam Weaks.
“Charlotte’s Web is a really fun show about family and friends and how other people can impact other people’s lives,” Weaks said.
Templeton only helps Charlotte and Wilbur when offered food.
“My character is the most fun in the entire show because I get to play the gluttonous rat who doesn’t understand at first the meaning of friendship and gets to run around and do his own thing,” Weaks said. “Throughout the show, he realizes that compassion is the way to lead in life.”
Weaks is no stranger to Permian Playhouse, having done numerous shows since moving to Odessa with his family eight years ago.
He is now a senior at New Tech and Permian and this will be his last show before graduating from high school this spring.
“I’ve been doing everything possible with this theater since I moved here about eight years ago,” Weaks said. “It’s very bittersweet to be a part of this cast and be in this show that’s going to be an absolute spectacle. I’ve enjoyed every single moment at this place and it’s going to be a great way to go out.”
Weaks is still hopeful that he’ll be involved with Permian Playhouse in the future even after graduating from high school.
“The greatest thing about community theater is just that: Community,” Weaks said. “A lot of people don’t realize that theater is a place for everyone. Anyone with any type of skills or interests has a lot they can bring to the table. The show is a big mash up of skills and interests that we all bring to the table. It’s the coolest thing in the world to get to open a show and see the audience laughing and crying with you. It brings everyone together.”
Playing the role of Wilbur the pig is 6-year old Kynzli James.
“It’s just a really cute show and also sad,” James said. “I love being here and I love doing this and everything that I get to do.”
Making her directorial debut at Permian Playhouse, Billingsley says the play has been fun.
“It’s been really, really amazing,” Billingsley said. “I’ve done lots of shows but I’ve never gotten to direct one so I’m pretty fortunate to direct this show with 35 kids. They’re ranging from six years old to 18 years old and I think it’s really neat to watch young actors fall in love with the theater and watch the older actors help and mentor the kids and have everyone love theater as much as I do.”
Doing a play adaptation of a well-known children’s book has been enjoyable for Billingsley.
“It’s a classic,” Billingsley said. “I think everyone knows the story. But I also think it’s a story of friendship and unconditional love and really do the right thing. Fern’s line really speaks to me when she opens the show with ‘this is the worst case of injustice I’ve ever seen.’ I love that it’s about friendship. It is unlikely friends. At the end of the day, a little girl, a pig and a spider and all the farm animals, even Templeton the rat, who’s supposed to be terrible, turns a corner at the end because they all love each other and are friends. Who doesn’t want to tell a story about that?”
While this is her debut as a director, Billingsley has been involved in theater her entire life.
“The theater is a place for everyone,” Billingsley said. “If you want to be onstage and be silly or be serious or dramatic but if you want to do makeup or make costumes or do lights or sell concessions or build props, you can literally find a home for anything in the theater that you want to do. That’s what I think is the beautiful thing about it. It doesn’t matter how old you are, if you want a spot in the theater, we have a spot. That’s the best part.”
When asked if she would direct another show at Permian Playhouse, Billingsley didn’t hesitate.
“I would work with these kids again every day,” Billingsley said. “The short answer is yes. I have really enjoyed working with these kids and I would do it again in a heartbeat.”
Doing a show with so many children has been fun for the high school students.
“It’s a lot but in a good way,” Joyce said. “The kids bring so much energy to every rehearsal and I love that they learn from me but I learn from them so it’s a lot of fun.”
If you go
- What: Charlotte’s Web.
- Where: Permian Playhouse.
- When: 7:30 p.m. April 22 & April 23; 2:30 p.m. April 24; 7:30 p.m. April 24, April 29 & April 30; 2:30 p.m. May 1.
- Where to buy tickets: tinyurl.com/99ts5phb
