Words on the Web 'Charlotte's Web' at QuarryWorks
Times Argus, August 3, 2007

By Mary Gow - ARTS CORRESPONDENT
      "SOME PIG." Charlotte A. Cavatica spent most of the night weaving these words into her spider's web, launching her plan to save a friend. When Farmer Zuckerman sees her surprising statement, he knows that a miracle has happened on his farm. Wilbur, the runty piglet strutting beneath the web, Zuckerman sees, is "no ordinary pig." But can a dedicated spider and barnyard community avert Wilbur's career path to the breakfast table?
      For the next two weekends QuarryWorks Theater in Adamant presents "Charlotte's
Web," a stage adaptation of E. B. White's exquisitely written tale of the power of friendship and cycles of life. Written in 1952, "Charlotte's Web" is among the handful of children's books truly considered a classic. At QuarryWorks, audience members Will see a production faithful to White's story, complete with humor, tenderness and surprises. They will also come home with a copy of the book - and both the show and book are free.
     "QuarryWorks is not about giving out tickets, it is about giving opportunity," said Michael Suchomel, QuarryWorks founder and artistic director. "There has got to be a place where

QuarryWorks "is a place where people can spread out their wings and try out something new." Michael Suchomel, artistic director

you are not pressured by a subscription base." The intimate 50-seat Phillips Experimental Theater at the Adamant Music School is such a place. Suchomel explained, "the focus here is on people - community as opportunity."
      For audiences, the opportunity is almost unbelievable. At QuarryWorks, you see live theater with custom costumes and sets, performed by a cast of community and professional actors, for no charge. The company presents three productions each summer - a musical, a drama and a young people's play. This year's earlier shows were "Oliver" and "Long Day's Journey into Night." As the icing on an already impressive cake, theatergoers can arrive early and picnic on the scenic grounds with old quarry, now filled with water, lovely gardens, and a small "green room" with old photographs and history of the site.
      For the cast and crew, QuarryWorks "is a placewhere people can spread out their wings and try out something new," said Suchomel. Creative ideas are valued and new twists are tried - like having "Oliver's" infamous Fagin played by a woman, company member Carol Benson. Actors and crew with QuarryWorks, grow their theater experience here - Sarah Venooker of Stowe who plays Wilbur, graduated from Johnson State College in 2006 with her degree in theater arts. Venooker, who studied dance for 12 years, just choreographed her first full musical - "Oliver."
      "We have the same core group from year to year, but like a community, some
people move and new people come in," said Suchomel. Many in the group live in central Vermont, but others, like Michael Boland who plays Templeton the rat and now lives in California, return to Adamant to be in the plays. Several families are involved in QuarryWorks, with parents and children in the shows or behind the scenes. Suchomel especially works to have children and teens involved - performing, doing lighting, and learning different aspects of theater.
      For the annual young people's play, Suchomel explained, "we try to find a play
associated with reading material to promote literacy and to give people the opportunity to read the entire story." Last year the group presented "Johnny Tremain" and gave copies of that book to the audience.
      In "Charlotte's Web" at QuarryWorks, "we are playing down the cute aspects of it
and working to be true to the original," said Suchomel.
      The company is using the Joseph Robinette adaptation of White's story, and adding unique twists and color - including a blue sheep, chartreuse rat, and other kaleidoscopic barnyard denizens.
      "It is set up as a troubadour telling a story. Colin McCaffrey is the troubadour." Singer, song-writer and recording producer McCaffrey, of East Montpelier, is both the story's narrator and its musician. Playing guitar, he provides interludes and accompaniment for the tale. He composed identifying themes for the farm animals - the waddling goose and gander, self-serving rat, Charlotte, and the others. Charlotte sings as she weaves. With
McCaffrey's music, little Wilbur even does a "radiant" dance while down on all fours.
      "Colin also wrote a song for us," said Suchomel. Wilbur and the animals honor Charlotte - "true friend and good writer, you always will be."
      Venooker grew up reading "Charlotte's Web. QuarryWorks' show, she said, "is not
about a cute pig. It's about growing up, building a family, making a home, what it means in a real sense, not a Disney sense."
      "There's a reason why when you say 'Charlotte's Web' people get warm in the heart," Venooker said. "We bring out the heartfeltness - the things people connect to when they read the story."
      Sheila Collins of Orange, with QuarryWorks for her fourth season, plays the black and red arachnid, Charlotte. "It's a story about friendship and the sacrifices you make for others."
      One of her favorite parts, Collins explained, is an exchange between Charlotte and Wilbur. The spider says, "You have been my friend. That in itself is a tremendous thing," As they talk about life, Wilbur does some growing up.
      QuarryWorks' "Charlotte's Web" occurs mostly in the barnyard, where Wilbur and the farm animals reside. Set designer Julie Mueller who has created memorable QuarryWorks sets including comic strip-style cutouts for "Annie," and a Marc Chagall-inspired "Fiddler on the Roof," has Charlotte's vast Charlotte's web as the stage's centerpiece. Costume designer' Carol Rooke van Tuinen brings brilliance to the barnyard with vivid and playful costumes for the creatures and their human associates.
      "I am opposed to disposable theater," said. Suchomel. "Everyone contributes to the production," he said - those who help with the attractive grounds, the cast, the backstage troops, and others."
      Not only the people in the company are important. Suchomel explained that their
"Charlotte's Web" is dedicated to Mr. Bones. "Mr. Bones," he said, "was a true friend to QuarryWorks. He was a Shiloh Shepherd and was a rescue dog. He was in 'Oliver.' Mr. Bones was kind of like our good luck charm."
      The dog died unexpectedly this summer of natural causes. Cast members still tear up when they talk about him and his soothing canine presence.
      In "Charlotte's Web" "there is a whole sense of community that the barnyard is united in saving Wilbur," said Suchomel. With QuarryWorks, there is also an impressive
sense of community in bringing this delightful and enduring story to life.