NRCC News

NRCC Theater to present the play 'The Spider and the Bee' December 7 -9

Nov 29 2007

This is an archived article!

This article was published on Nov 29 2007 and was archived on Nov 29 2008. The information below may be outdated or inaccurate.

New River Community College Theater will present its annual holiday play for children of all ages on December 7, 8, and 9 at 2 p.m. in Richardson Auditorium located in Rooker Hall. The play, The Spider and the Bee, is based on Jonathan Swift's story "Battle of the Books." Written by Stephen Press, the play won the National Children's Theater Playwriting Competition, and has had many successful productions nationwide.

Directed by Sandra Palmer Moye, assistant professor of English and coordinator of NRCC Theater, the play will be performed by NRCC students and staff. Beginning at 1:30 p.m. there will be face painting for the children and refreshments for all.

The story is about a "battle" between a spider, who believes "we were born to think and the sciences and math are what make us think," and a bee, who has "soared toward the sun, sung with the meadowlark and heard the thousand tongues of man and insects." The bee believes in the glory and power of poetry. Other characters include a termite, a butterfly and a ladybug. A "trial" is held, during which the spider and the bee argue their points of view - and the other characters must decide who is the "winner" of this debate. The play is loaded with broad humor and fun, as well as food for thought.

Characters in the play include NRCC students Henry Franklin, spider; Wes Ross, bee; Suzette Miller, butterfly; Brent Davidson, termite; and NRCC staff member Angela Winn, ladybug.

Admission for the play is $5 for adults, $2.50 for NRCC students, and free for children 12 and under.

For those who would like to read Swift's "Battle of the Books" it can be found at the following web address: http://andromeda.rutgers.edu/"jlynch/Texts/battle.html .