Don’t miss Notre Dame’s production of ‘Charlotte’s Web’ next weekend

The Notre Dame High School Drama Club will take the stage next weekend to perform “Charlotte’s Web,” a two-act play based on the book of the same name by E.B. White.

The production tracks the plot of the book by the same name, opening with Wilbur’s birth as the runt of the litter. Fern talks her father out of killing Wilbur and into letting her raise him, ultimately selling him to her uncle in an attempt to save him from the slaughterhouse.

Soon afterwards, Wilbur figures out that he is still not safe from the butcher, so his friend Charlotte the spider undertakes to save him by spinning words of praise into her web. The ploy works and Wilbur gets entered into the state fair with the assurance that if he wins, he’ll never become bacon.

Of course, in the bittersweet ending, Charlotte sacrifices herself to save Wilbur by spinning one last web extolling his virtue, this one at the county fair where the judges could see it.

One fun thing about this play is that most of the characters are animals, so the audience can expect to see some pretty clever costumes.

Also, talking animals are almost always funny.

Another fun thing is that there is a lot of physical comedy involved, and the members of the cast seem fearless as they literally throw themselves into their roles.

Steve Fontenot, the drama club’s sponsor, does not put up with foolishness, and, the play’s student director, Rachel LaCroix, has plenty of experience. The result is an excellent play.

More than a week out from their first performance, the members of the cast know their lines and have an excellent grasp of the comic timing required of them throughout most of the play.

The entire cast is strong, and everyone involved with this production should take pride in their work.

One of the standouts is Abram Broussard, who does a great job as Wilbur, and one especially funny scene involves his being chased across the farmyard as he attempts to escape in order to save his hide. Broussard also does an excellent job of demonstrating Wilbur’s fear of the butcher, particularly when he faints.

The young actors playing the supporting characters of Goose and Gander, Sydney Gilder and Joshua Kilgore, respectively, could almost steal the show. Their portrayal of the animals is spot on, with honking in all the right spots. 

Also noteworthy is Grant Broussard as Templeton, the self-centered rat who agrees to help save Wilbur, but only because he gets to share Wilbur’s slop. Broussard’s delivery and body language are great. 

The cast also includes Corinne Doucet as Charlotte, Claire Hebert as Fern, Andrew Piron as John Arable, Vanessa Benoit as Mrs. Arable, Evan Hebert as Avery, Lauren Babineaux as Edith, Luke Dupre as Homer, Seth Harson as Lurvy, Michaela Jabusch as Sheep, Bethany Leonards as Lamb, Abigail Kilgore as Chorus Member 1, Elizabeth Kibideaux as Chorus Member 2, Abbey McCrony as Chorus Member 3, Samantha Leger as a reporter, Chloe Sibley as a photographer, Cole Zaunbrecher as Uncle, Loren Swilley as Baby Spider #1, Caroline Swilley as Baby Spider #2 and Emily Castille as Baby Spider #3. Amber Devillier is the chair of the hair committee, Kylie Hebert is the chair of the makeup committte, Payton Zaunbrecher chairs the costume committee, Aline Gossen is in charge of the set committee and Mary Frances Beslin is handling the prop committee.

Theater-goers who catch the show will not be disappointed.

The play was written by Joseph Robinette and is being produced by special arrangement with The Dramatic Publishing Co. of Woodstock, Illinois.

Performances are scheduled for 7 p.m. on Friday, Mar. 20, and Sat., Mar. 21, and 2 p.m. on Sun., Mar. 22, at the Grand Opera House, 505 N. Parkerson Ave. in Crowley,.

Admission is $12 for adults and $10 for children. 

Tickets can be purchased by visiting http://thegrandoperahouse.org,  by calling the opera house at 785-0440 and at the door. For more information call (337) 458-1735.