World-class theatre for children
Autism Friendly Synopsis Pack Charlotte’s Web
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Characters The actors will take on different characters in the play. These are the main characters:
Fern Arable - A Young Girl Wilbur - A Pig
Templeton - A Rat
Wilbur Puppet
Charlotte - A Spider
Homer Zuckerman –
Avery Arable-
Fern’s Uncle
Fern’s brother
The actors sometimes play different characters. These photos show the other characters in the story:
Goose Farm Animal
Old Sheep Farm Animal
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Martha ArableFern’s mother
John ArableFern’s father
Scene 1 The Arable’s Kitchen Martha is making breakfast for Fern and Avery. She tells them to be quiet as their father is sleeping. The father was awake last night because the pig has just had piglets.
Their father enters. He explains that one pig is too small and weak and so needs to be killed.
Fern says she will look after it so it is big and strong. Her parents agree and the pig is saved. Fern calls the pig Wilbur. Wilbur grows big and strong. Wilbur is ready to be sold. Fern asks if he can be saved. Father says he will send him to his brother, Homer Zuckerman. Fern can visit Wilbur every day.
Scene 2 The Zuckerman’s Barn Wilbur is in his new home. Wilbur meets a rat called Templeton, a Goose and the Sheep.
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Wilbur makes a new friend called Charlotte. Charlotte is a spider. The animals tell Wilbur the humans are keeping Wilbur and feeding him to get fat so the humans can eat him.
Wilbur is very sad. Charlotte plans a way to save her friend Wilbur.
That night Charlotte writes the words ‘Some Pig’ in her web. She wants the humans to know Wilbur is special. In the morning Homer comes in to feed Wilbur. Homer sees the web. Homer goes to tell his wife. Wilbur tries to escape but is caught. Homer is very happy about the web. Charlotte plans what to write the next night. She writes ‘Terrific’. Homer is so happy he phones the local paper. Charlotte writes ‘Radiant’. Homer tells the reporter he will take Wilbur to the county fair. If Wilbur wins the blue ribbon he can live at the farm forever
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Interval
There is now a 15 minute interval. During the interval you can‌
Act 2 Scene 1 At the County Fair.
Fern and Avery go to see the fair. Charlotte comes out of hiding. Charlotte is tired from spinning her web and writing words. She goes to sleep. Two people come over to look at Wilbur.
Templeton brings a word for Charlotte to write in her web. Page 5 Polka Theatre 240 Broadway, Wimbledon, London SW19 1SB +44 (0)20 8543 4888 www.polkatheatre.com
Fern and her Uncle Homer go home. Charlotte writes the word ‘Humble’.
She also makes her egg sack. She has laid 514 eggs. Templeton comes in. He tells them that a big pig called ‘Uncle’ has won the blue ribbon. Fern is very sad. The president of the fair comes to talk to Homer. He says that Wilbur has won a special prize. This is a Medal.
Wilbur talks to Charlotte who is very weak. She is tired from writing the words. She says she will not come back to the barn. Wilbur asks Templeton to climb and get the egg sack. They take it back to the barn and keep it safe.
Scene 2 The Zuckerman Barn. It is now the spring. Wilbur is looking after Charlotte’s eggs and waiting for them to hatch.
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They begin to hatch, hundreds of them. The baby Spiders climb everywhere. They start to leave the barn. Wilbur is sad. He wanted them to stay so he can have new friends. Three spiders decide to stay. Wilbur names them Joy, Aranea and Nellie. Wilbur hangs his medal where Charlotte’s web used to be.
The end
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