THE CURIOUS SAVAGE




Comedy by John Patrick
Directed by Sue Hoenecke

THE CURIOUS SAVAGE auditions: September 7th and 8th (7pm - 9pm)

*Auditioning All Roles*

.

Auditions and Rehearsals held at:
St. John’s Episcopal Church
330 McClellan Street, Wausau
(Enter through parking lot door)
First rehearsal September 9, 2010, 7pm
FULL REHEARSAL SCHEDULE TO FOLLOW

Brief Show Description
 John Patrick's play, "The Curious Savage," is a comedy contrasting the gentle and friendly delusions of the residents of The Cloisters with the rude and rapacious outside world, leaving the audience to wonder who is truly demented. In his notes to the play, the author states, "It is important in 'The Curious Savage' that the gentle inmates of The Cloisters be played with warmth and dignity. Their home is not an asylum nor are these good people lunatics. Any exaggeration of the roles will rob them of charm and humor. The whole point of the play is to contrast them with Mrs. Savage's children and the insane outside world. To depart from this point of view for the sake of easy laughs will rob the play of its meaning."

Roles for 5 men, 6 women, age range 20's to 60. Auditions will consist of readings from the script


The Characters (Ages are approximates):
The Savages

Mrs. Ethel P. Savage: (50s-60s) Ethel is a crafty but kindhearted woman with a shifted viewpoint of humanity. The events of the play are centered around her and her decision to hide the money which she has inherited from her late husband in an attempt to make her children look on others with more kindness. She dislikes her stepchildren, but learns to love the residents of The Cloisters.

Titus: (40s-50s) Sent so many threatening letters that he is listed by Western Union as a "tangible asset," Titus is the least popular senator in congress. He is sober, humorless, and direct.

Lily Belle: (40s-50s) Lily Belle was once married to a Slovak prince, and has remarried five times since then. A celebrity heiress, she is arrogant, chic, and self-assured.

Samuel: (40s-50s) Samuel has the distinction of being the judge with the most overturned decisions in the U.S. He walks in the shadows of his siblings, offering a short comment every once in a while, only to be shot down by his siblings.

The Residents of "The Cloisters"

Florence: (30s-40s) The elegant "mother" of The Cloisters, she believes she has a five year old son named John Thomas; in fact, John Thomas is a doll. During Mrs. Savage's stay at The Cloisters, Florence believes that John Thomas has the measles.

Fairy May: (early 20s) Fairy is a compulsive liar who is obsessed with having others love her. She is unkempt throughout the play, but believes herself to be stunningly beautiful.

Jeffrey: (20s-30s) Once a fighter pilot, Jeff was shot down in the war. He now believes that he has a scar on face, which he constantly hides from others. He plays the piano, but is too shy to do so around other people. He is also married to Miss Willie, but does not remember that he is. Miss Willie works at the Cloisters in the hopes that one day Jeffrey will remember her.

Hannibal: (20s-40s) Hannibal, once a statistician, was fired and replaced by an electronic calculator. He has taken up the violin, which he wrongly believes he can play beautifully.

Mrs. Paddy: (40s-50s) Mrs. Paddy paints with the quality of Hannibal's violin playing, and only speaks to announce what she hates. She has given up electricity for Lent and turns off all the lights multiple times throughout the play, causing mayhem. She hates "everything in the world." The other patients say that Mrs. Paddy stopped talking when her husband told her to "shut up" one day, and she hasn't spoken since.

The Staff of "The Cloisters"

Dr. Emmett: (50s-60s)The staff doctor for this wing of The Cloisters, Dr. Emmett is kind, warmhearted, and he works hard to help his patients.

Miss "Willie" Wilhelmina: (20s-30s) Miss Willie is an administrative assistant and nurse. She is married to Jeff, but pretends not to be because he doesn't remember her. He is the reason she is working here, but she is nonetheless extremely kind and understanding towards all the residents of The Cloisters.


Go to the Play with Us page for Performance dates and times

Hit Counter