Students of Gatewood Schools presented a story of true friendship Oct. 25-26, proving that no true friend is ever too small. The play, Charlotte's Web, is based on a children's novel of the same name by E.B. White. It tells how Charlotte the spider saved Wilbur the pig from slaughter by weaving words of praise for Wilbur into her web.
Beth Mappes is a kindergarten teacher and a director with Gatewood Players, a drama program she helped start four years ago at Gatewood in Eatonton. She said she was inspired to put on the play this year after watching an HBO documentary over the summer about a theater school.
'It was during one of the mass shootings, and it showed how much it meant to kids to come back after the shooting and perform their show.
And I said, 'It's a sign. I am supposed to do this.'' The cast included 13 Gatewood students from fourth through eighth grades.
'So many of our students play football, softball or do cheerleading,' Mappes said, laughing. 'It was tricky enough to select a cast.
And it was hard to give a role to some and not to involve the others.
We have such talented children.'
Caylin Stancil, who played the role of Charlotte, revealed she’s wanted “for years” to be an actress. 'I like Ms.
Mappes. She's a really good director,” Stancil said. “Everybody's doing well with their lines and everything. I like my role because I help Wilbur.'
Lilly Kent Rainey, who played Wilbur, confessed that participation in a play was more of a fun experience for her and she'd like to become a doctor when she gets older.
Elizabeth Weems, who played the role of Templeton the rat in Charlotte’s Web, said she liked being in the play “because everybody is really nice and it's a place where you can have friends outside of school and you're still doing something for school.”
Then she added, 'I'd like to be on Broadway when I grow older. I like acting different personalities. When you're acting, you're not yourself anymore. You put yourself in a different person.' An Atlanta native, Mappes is a graduate of Georgia State University with a major in early childhood education.
Now a teacher of 30 years, she has carried a passion for theater throughout her life.
Mappes directed children's choir in Snellville, was on the board at On Stage Playhouse in Monroe and was involved in a theater program in Winder. She and her husband moved to Lake Country about four years ago.
Mappes also is a breast cancer survivor and said that when she first arrived, her health prevented her from directing performances, but she still worked backstage and helped with theater camps at Greensboro’s Festival Hall and The Plaza Arts Center in Eatonton.
She noticed, too, there was no theater program at Gatewood when she started teaching there, so she approached Headmaster Jeff Decker with a proposal to do a show, to which he readily agreed.
'So we did The Jungle Book,' Mappes said.
'That one is still very meaningful for me. I did not know if I would be able to direct again, especially young children, because it takes a lot of energy, and I was having a really hard time getting used to the medication and everything.'
For Mappes, after Jungle Book proved she could succeed, she said it was really special to be able to follow up with Charlotte’s Web because it was the first performance she’s directed since defeating cancer.
'And ever since I've been able to keep going and doing it,' she said. 'I live life to the fullest.'