BAKER CITY — A tiny pig’s life is in danger, and Fern Arable can’t stand the thought of a creature losing its life just because it’s small.

Fortunately, her dad listens to Fern’s pleas and spares the life of the runt — who will soon befriend a spider that will change the course of his life.

E.B. White’s “Charlotte’s Web” comes to the stage this month as a youth production by Eastern Oregon Regional Theatre.

The gang’s all here — Wilbur the pig who really wants to avoid becoming bacon, a special spider named Charlotte who weaves words in her web, a gaggle of geese, a couple of opinionated sheep, Templeton the rat and Fern, the girl who was the first to save Wilbur’s life.

The show opens Friday, March 14, with a special adult ticket price of $10. Regular ticket prices are $13 adults, $11 EORT members and $5 students.

Performances are Friday through Saturday, March 14-16, and March 21-23, at the theater, 2101 Main St.

Friday and Saturday shows start at 6 p.m., and Sunday shows are at 3 p.m.

Tickets are available at easternoregonregionaltheatre.com, by calling 541-523-9652, or at the door before each performance.

The play

The action begins with big news — piglets have arrived on the Arable farm. But when little Fern (played by Scarlett Scott) runs out to see the babies, she finds her dad carrying an ax.

When she discovers that he’s on his way to kill the runt, her sense of justice prevails and she convinces her father that she’ll take care of the piglet.

This, of course, incites her brother Avery (Tobias Lee) to ask for his own pig, too.

“I only give pigs to early risers who are trying to rid the world of injustice,” John Arable, played by Evan Carroll, said as he walks off to hang up his ax.

In the early scenes, Wilbur is played by Olivia Koettel. Then Brandt Peterson takes over the role as Wilbur grows into a fine specimen of a pig.

But his appetite is costly, and Fern must again worry about the fate of her friend.

Fortunately, Wilbur goes to live at a nearby farm owned by Homer Zuckerman (played by Justin Wolfe), where Fern can visit every day.

After the move, Wilbur mopes from loneliness until he meets the geese and the sheep, who break the news that his fate is the butcher.

But another barnyard resident, a well-spoken spider named Charlotte A. Cavatica (played by Marquesa Peterson), befriends Wilbur and assures him that she will do her best to save his life.

He’s hopeful, even if Charlotte’s meals of insects make him a bit queasy.

“I’ve got a new friend, but Charlotte is brutal and bloodthirsty,” Wilbur tells the audience.

Her plan — to weave words into her web — quickly gains the attention of the Zuckermans and soon crowds gather to marvel at this wonderful pig worthy of such words as “radiant” and “terrific.”

Most of the creatures are on board with this plan of saving Wilbur, although Templeton the rat, played by Annalee Phillips, is a harder sell — until she learns that if Wilbur dies, that trough of slops will go away.

Phillips said her favorite part of playing this character is that, like Templeton, she gets to eat.

“Licorice, popcorn, slops,” she said with a grin, fitting a pointed rat nose over her face.

The story is, at the core, about friendship.

“I can face anything with friends like you,” Wilbur tells his barnyard companions. “Friendship is one of the most satisfying things in the world.”

But it is Charlotte, who spends her waning days trying to save her friend, who Wilbur will never forget.

“She was in a class by herself,” he said. “It is not often that someone comes along who is a true friend and a good writer.”

Cast

The play is directed by Cindy Ratterman, who is assisted by Channin Becker. Additional cast members are Riley Schuette, Roxana Weber, Ainsley Schuette, Elizabeth Gibbons, Josiah Lee, Obsidian Adams, Ellie Bagenski, Skuli Webb, Mayci Crowther, Ava Carman and Dinah Walden.