On Stage This Weekend - "Ramona Quimby"

Here's a show that almost slipped past me - the Children's Theatre of Charleston is presenting Ramona Quimby at the Civic Center Little Theatre Oct. 7 at 7 p.m., Oct. 8 at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m., and Oct. 9 at 2 p.m.

Tickets are $10 for children (ages 3-13) and $12 for adults.

Tickets available at the Civic Center Box Office or at the door. Call 304-346-0164 for more information.

For those who haven't met Ramona, here's what to expect:

Unpredictable. Exasperating. Boisterous and Independent. That's Ramona Quimby for you.

Always aggravating her older sister, Beezus, constantly getting into trouble and sometimes "making a big, noisy fuss" when things don't go her way. As narrator, Beezus (Beatrice Quimby) introduces the Quimby family and friends and thereby sets the scene for the collection of vignettes that trace Ramona's tumultuous passage through third grade and through her family relationships.

At school, she throws a tantrum when provoked by a classmate and is sent home in disgrace. The teacher's wrath, an important family wedding, persistent sibling bickering and Mr. Quimby's attempts to give up smoking are part of the fabric that shape a humorous, loving family portrait.

The characters and the material, adapted by Obie Award-winning playwright Len Jenkin, are as "today" as the morning newspaper. The problems facing the Quimbys, a middle-class Oregon family, are problems common to most families, and the family's togetherness in tackling the sacrifices and adjustments required when the father is unexpectedly fired from his job is a clear statement of traditional family values.

Along with the discovery that life is not always fair, eventually Ramona and Beezus come to realize that sisters may not always agree, but they can be good to have around.