Yesterday we saw The Charlotte’s Web at the Arden. Maybe last year’s production of Peter Pan spoiled all future children’s theater for me, but this show was not that impressive. Maybe I just don’t really care for the story in the first place. Whatever the reason, I was glad when it was over. There was some great acting and the geese and rat in particular made me laugh a lot. But past that, the thing that hit me the most was the commentary on friendship that actually looked more like martyrdom than partnering and the way the discussed death. I’ll say again that children’s theater does not have to be dumb.