'Charlotte's Web' fun to see

CHARLOTTE'S WEB; UVU department of theatrical arts; Noorda Regional Theatre for Children and Youth; directed by Christopher Clark; through Oct. 3; running time 1 hour 40 minutes with one 15-minute intermission.

OREM — This stage adaptation of E.B. White's favored children's tale is a most entertaining show.

With animal puppets made of wire, metal and fabric that are surprisingly full of expression and personality, this story takes on a unique flavor and is just plain fun to watch.

The puppeteers are purposefully aligned in costume and physical appearance to the animals they portray, so it's easy to get right into the story: Charlotte's puppeteer is dressed in lace and net, and Templeton the Rat is filthy, with a tattered tie and ragged pants.

The music, starting with a sunrise serenade, is sweet. The thunderstorm is magical. The four-piece, tractor-side band adds some nice touches.

The simple set is wonderfully adaptable as pieces roll around and become the barnyard, the fair, whatever is needed.

The children in a Saturday-matinee audience were spellbound, watching with open mouths as Charlotte devised a plan to save Wilbur the runt piglet from becoming breakfast bacon.

Throughout the show, cast members are in tune with this little story, never breaking character or forgetting to take the story seriously. Katie Sue Sullivan as the Goose is a good example.

Nat Reed deserves serious praise for the puppets, whose eyes open and close and whose legs dance and bend on demand.

The puppeteers deserve credit for keeping the strings untangled and responding as one animal when it takes two people to operate one.

Jana Grass, as Charlotte, has the spider-leg movement down.

Jacob Porter, as Wilbur, is consistently boisterous and alarmed about his future.

When the barnyard erupts into chaos, it's totally believable.

This is great for kids but also watchable for adults.

Plus, there's some nice humor and some things to talk about later as children see real friendships develop, sacrifices made and a little of life's harsh reality come into play.

e-mail: haddoc@desnews.com