Star Tribune - Highly Recommended

"...Director Banks is known for elemental productions, including promenade-style ones such as “Romeo and Juliet” and “Antigone.” “Charlotte’s Web” is comparatively stationary. But the show is well worth seeing."
Read Full Review

Aisle Say Twin Cities - Somewhat Recommended

"...So Children’s Theatre Company has to figure out how to dramatize E.B. White’s blunt prose while maintaining Charlotte’s enigmatic charisma and keeping young audiences engaged. To be blunt myself, I don’t think this production lives up to the challenge. While the theater has an excellent core of adult actors, Joseph Robinette’s script does not give them much to do. Despite the opportunity to engage with this treasured story, this production keeps the characters (both animal and human) one-dimensional while minimizing any fear that Wilbur won’t survive.  Fear is what gives such pathos to movies like Bambi and stories like Wilbur’s, but the emotional center of Robinette’s script instead depends on Fern and Wilbur’s general likability. Emma Thvedt appropriately portrays Fern’s wide-eyed innocence, however she and Ethan Davenport (Wilbur) just don’t engage the audience enough to carry the production. That’s not their fault; again, they are not given much text or staging with which to engage us. Even Wilbur’s most playful moments feel flat and tame. Charlotte (Joanna Harmon) was beautiful to watch, although the gag of her web got a bit repetitive."
Read Full Review