The Editor attended a near-full house at Morrison Tech auditorium, 701 Portland Avenue, Morrison, IL, to witness the 7:00 p.m. Morrison Music Theater Association production of “Charlotte’s Web,” on Saturday, March 11, 2023. The cast of 17 ranged in ages from Grade School to Grandparents.
Lovers of the charming, multi-award winning novel by E. B. White, with award winning illustrations by Garth Williams, witnessed scenes come to life. During two acts, all the poignant moments came into view:
an innocent, fainting pig (Wilbur);
arachnid writings in a web (Charlotte);
waddling, repeating geese;
an unsavory rat who “saves Wilbur’s bacon” by finding adjectives in text (Templeton.)
Theresa Brandon designed the perfect, semi-cartoon set. It brilliantly served as Wilbur’s sty on two farms and the County Fair Swine Department. It was compact enough to allow 17 cast members to navigate and congregate, and to run, tumble, and do the splits!
A delightful, final performance is Sunday, March 12, at 2:00 p.m.
Alan Gardiner-Robinson made his Directorial debut with MMTA, but has a great deal of theatrical experience. Seventeen actors are from
Morrison: Monica Anderson, Shelby Anderson, Zayley Boonstra, Keaton Hull, Makenzie Neas, Bonnie Phend, Eric Phend, Sunny Porter, Connie Swanson-DeSpain
Clinton: Hope MacLennan, Amira Tharp, Judah Tharpe
Lost Nation, IA: Ben Geerts, JoJo Geerts
Albany, IL: Tina Naftzger
Prophetstown, IL: Kim Meyers
Wheaton, IL: Edwin Davis.
