- April 19, 2024
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Don’t be fooled by the looks of Charles Shoemaker. He might resemble a cute blond 9-year-old boy, but when he steps onstage, he’s a rodent.
Shoemaker plays the title character in Venice Theatre’s production of “Stuart Little,” and Director and Scenic Designer Tim Wisgerhof says he couldn’t think of anyone who could fit the role more perfectly.
“Just look at him, he’s adorable,” Wisgerhof says with a laugh. “I admire Charles for what he’s able to cram into his head. He’s in every scene except for two.”
Shoemaker got his start at the age of 5 performing original one-man shows (he even did his own set design by creatively arranging boxes, his go-to set pieces) for his parents, five siblings and two dogs.
Most recently, Venice Theatre audiences saw Shoemaker this winter as Randy in “A Christmas Story, the Musical,” and as Tiny Tim for the past two years in the theater’s production of “A Christmas Carol.”
Now, eight shows into his community theater career, the young actor is hooked. He says he loves the excitement of walking into the costume closet to discover what he’ll be wearing and what props he’ll get to use. He’s particularly pumped about Stuart’s large pencil.
Shoemaker wants to act professionally when he grows up. Or be a stage manager. He’s not quite sure yet, but he has some time to figure it out (Wisgerhof suggests starting his own theater company so he can do it all).
Stuart’s mother in the musical is played by Yolanda Benoit, who, on the flip side, has no experience in theater whatsoever. Her friend was auditioning and persuaded her to give it a try just 30 minutes before the auditions began, she says.
“I had nothing prepared, I just went in and did what I had to do,” says Benoit. “I never thought I would be Mrs. Little, but it was a happy surprise.”
She auditioned with her 14-year-old daughter, Sabrina, who is playing one of the mice and singing several numbers. She says the fact that they both ended up in the show was pure serendipity, and it’s been a great bonding experience for them.
Benoit started rehearsals with only a brief stint in high school choir for background knowledge of how to present herself onstage. But with cast members like Shoemaker and a director like Wisgerhof to help her through, she says it’s only been a positive experience.
“I’ve been really impressed by all the professionalism that is supporting us,” she says. “It’s amazing, the amount of talent and the direction and choreography available … and Charles, he’s really teaching me about stamina, keeping yourself together and having a positive attitude.”
“Stuart Little” is the musical adaptation of E.B. White’s classic tale about a small mouse living in the Big Apple. Born into a human family, Stuart is set on living his life as if he were a “real” little boy. His determination takes him on an adventure through New York City and across the country to find a bird that helped save his life.
Set to an emotional score by composer Ronna Frank, the story is told through six lead characters, a young men’s chorus and a young women’s chorus. Singers utilize everything from melodic ballads to exciting chorus members to help tell the tale, which is all about Stuart overcoming several obstacles after leaving his family to set off on this journey.
Wisgerhof says the show, which is the theater’s final “Generations” show of the 2017-2018 season, teaches audiences about the importance of kindness, forgiveness (toward others and ourselves) and forging your own path.
“For Stuart, it’s all about being a friend,” he says. “All he’s trying to do is be a nice guy … but sometimes he isn’t and we can’t go back and fix all of our mistakes.”
Shoemaker nods enthusiastically in agreement.
“And you don’t have to judge someone if they’re small,” he adds. “Treat people like you would like to be treated.”
Wisgerhof also loves “Stuart Little” because it presents him with a fun challenge not only as a director, but as a set designer who has to make a 9-year-old appear to be the size of a mouse.
“It’s all about playing with scale onstage and figuring out how to do that without graphics and computer screens,” he says. “The set has a lot of levels, so he’s always lower than everyone else.”
This aspect of the show’s visuals is important not only for the sake of being realistic but to make an important point, he adds. It explores the notion of literally and figuratively talking down to others, and how ordinary people — regardless of their size — can become extraordinary.
And when his young cast understands the reasoning behind this blocking, it’s thrilling.
“There was a moment when we were doing a scene in a classroom and we had Charles go up and everyone else came down, and Charles said ‘Oh that’s because Stuart feels bigger’, and that gave me goosebumps.”
Shoemaker calls this his first “true” leading role, but for him, it’s not just about being the star of the show. He loves to perform, but he says one of the best parts of being in the show is all the friends he’s made in the cast of 20, which includes performers from Bradenton all the way to North Port.
“It’s neat to see them become friends,” Wisgerhof says. “You see them blossom in their own roles and work together for a common goal.”
Benoit says playing Mrs. Little comes somewhat naturally because she’s also a mother offstage, but her inaugural acting experience was also made easier working with a “gem” like Shoemaker and a team who always has her back.
“I feel so supported, and I feel like they really drive us to do our best work,” she says. “I’m so pleased with this experience, I’d like to do this again.”
Wisgerhof says this show is unique in that it affords every child — which is nearly the whole cast, because everyone but the three adults are between the ages of 9 and 15 — a moment to shine.
Their collective goal as a cast is to get several messages across, but for Benoit, it’s all about inspiring audiences to believe in themselves and follow their own moral compass.
“If they walk away with a sense that they can do anything they put their mind to, we’ve accomplished what we need to accomplish,” she says.
