The Curious Savage

By John Patrick

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MSP's policy regarding Covid-19 will be followed for auditions, rehearsals, and performances.  For more information on the MSP Covid-19 Policy, please see the bottom of this page.  This policy is subject to change as state and local guidelines change.  

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Audition Dates:  

Sunday, July 31 and Monday, August 1, 7:00 – 9:00 pm.  Auditions will be held at the Basile Westfield Playhouse 220 N. Union Street, Westfield, IN 46074.  Please enter through the front lobby doors.  Auditions will be held in the auditorium.

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Auditions are open to all adults, ages 18 – 60+. Those auditioning will be asked to read from the script; no prepared monologues are required.  If you have them, please bring a headshot and a theatrical resume/bio. Be prepared to fill out an audition application (also available on our website to fill out beforehand) and provide all conflicts you may have between August 8 and October 9. All cast members must be available for all rehearsals during tech week, September 24 – 28, and for all performances.

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If you have any questions, please contact the director, Nancy Lafferty, at lafferty.nancy@yahoo.com

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Performance Dates: 

September 29 – October 2 and October 6 – 9.

Thursday, Friday, and Saturday shows begin at 7:30 pm.  Sunday shows begin at 2:30 pm.

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Synopsis: 

The Curious Savage is the story of an elderly widow, Ethel P. Savage, whose husband left her ten million dollars. She intends to give the entire fortune away to people who wish to pursue their dreams, but her stepchildren strongly object. To prevent her from doing away with their family’s wealth and ruining their legacy, they have her committed to a sanatorium called The Cloisters, where the gentle residents become her new family.

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Rehearsal Information:

Rehearsals are Monday through Thursday evenings from 7:00 – 9:30 pm. A read-through is scheduled for Monday, August 8 at 8:00 pm upstairs in the rehearsal room.  Rehearsals will begin and end as scheduled. Please plan to arrive 10 minutes early in order to be ready to start when called.

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Roles to be cast: 

(All characters of any ethnicity. All roles are available.)

 

THE FAMILY:

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Ethel Savage (f) – Ethel Savage is an eccentric, witty woman who desires to fulfill the dreams of others. She has a small and youthful face with bright, expressive eyes, making her always seem amused and cheerful. Her hair has a blue tint, and she always carries around a large teddy bear. She is kind and accepting, not judging any of the inmates despite their obvious quirks. In contrast with the other inmates, Mrs. Savage is peculiar yet still maintains an accurate perception of herself and of the world around her.

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Titus (m)– Titus, one of the Savage stepchildren, is a wealthy and successful businessman. He is aristocratic, stuck-up, and greedy, just like his siblings. He looks upon the inmates in The Cloisters with scorn and disgust, and he always acts very pompously. He is disrespectful to everyone around him, including his brother and sister.

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Samuel (m) – Samuel, the third Savage sibling, is less pretentious than the other two. He is short, awkward, and undistinguished, seeming to follow whatever his siblings do and say. He seems to have the least power among the Savage stepchildren.

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Lily Belle (f) – Lily Belle, the sister of Titus and Samuel, is tall, thin, and very chic. She is self-confident and assured, but she has a quick temper. She has been romantically involved with many men in the past, and her various past relationships are often ridiculed by her siblings and stepmother. Lily Belle is stubborn, stuck-up, and very materialistic.

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THE GUESTS:

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Florence (f) – Florence (20’s — 40’s) is an inmate at The Cloisters. She is naturally elegant and maternal, and her warm smile always lightens the mood. She believes that the doll she carries around is in fact her five-year-old son, John Thomas. She is polite and kind to everyone, making sure to always have proper etiquette.

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Hannibal (m) – Hannibal (20’s — 40’s) is an inmate at The Cloisters. He is described as “pink, plump, and cherubic.” He is gifted at mathematics, and he used to be a statistician for the government; he uses math constantly and often muses on such things as the placement of body parts. He believes he is a master at the violin, but in reality he cannot play.

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Fairy May (f) – Fairy May (early 20’s) is another inmate at the Cloisters. She believes she is beautiful despite her unkempt appearance: she is pale and slender with frazzled hair, unflattering dresses, and wide-rimmed glasses. Her energy and light-hearted attitude are always amusing but sometimes annoying. She is a compulsive liar, inventing fantastical stories about her childhood that are clearly exaggerated.

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Jeffrey (m) – Jeff (20’s — 30’s) is one of the inmates at the Cloisters. He is quiet and more reserved than some of the other inmates, but he possesses a maturity that surpasses his age. He fought in World War II, but he quit before his plane was shot down. He believes this has left him with physical scars on his face, when really he possesses only emotional scars.

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Mrs. Paddy (f) – Mrs. Paddy (40’s — 50’s) is a stout, middle-aged woman of “awesome ferocity.” She is hostile and detached from the other inmates. When her husband told her to shut up, she decided never to talk again; now, she merely lists the countless things she hates. She frequently paints “seascapes,” which consist of one undulating line.

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THE STAFF:

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Miss Wilhelmina – Miss Willie is the nurse at The Cloisters. She is very compassionate, treating the inmates with warmth and respect despite her occasional frustration. She enjoys her job and has never let any inmate pay her to escape. She is married to Jeff, but he doesn’t remember their relationship.

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Dr. Emmett (f/m) – Dr. Emmett is the doctor at The Cloisters. S/he is rational and calm, treating every situation with composure and sensibility and providing an authority figure to the inmates. S/he acts as the voice of reason in the sanitarium, genuinely caring about the inmates and wanting them to enjoy their stay at The Cloisters.

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IN ORDER TO KEEP OUR ACTORS, TECHNICIANS, VOLUNTEERS AND PATRONS AS SAFE AS POSSIBLE

DURING THE WIND DOWN PHASE OF THE COVID PANDEMIC, WESTFIELD PLAYHOUSE/MAIN STREET PRODUCTIONS, INC.

HAS INSTITUTED THE FOLLOWING REVISED COVID RULES - EFFECTIVE NOVEMBER 14, 2021

 

        1.  WPH will maintain signage at every public entrance (anyone entering the theatre to the lobby) that will display the following messaging:                 “If you are not fully vaccinated or do not have the antibodies, Please wear a mask.”  We would expect patrons who are not vaccinated or                 do not have reason to believe they have the antibodies to wear a mask at all times when in the building. 

 

        2.  We will have hand sanitizer in the dressing rooms, outside the actor bathrooms and back stage for actor/technician/volunteer use and in

             the lobby and lobby bathrooms for patron use.

 

        3.  Actors/technicians/volunteers should show up to all rehearsals prepared with all of their own materials, including, but not limited to,

             scripts, pencils, masks, water bottles.  No company members should share, including make-up and hair styling equipment.

 

        4.  There will be no reception lines or gathering of actors or company members in the lobby following the performance.  We would ask that

             patrons do not congregate in the lobby prior to or after the shows.  Any greeting or picture taking with friends or family should occur                     outside the theatre, at a safe social distance.  This will occur on the front porch, off to the side as to not block the exit doors.  Each show’s

             director has the option to choose whether their cast will do this or not.  Each actor in the cast will also have the option to participate or                   not, depending on their own personal comfort level.

 

        5.  If an actor, technician, or volunteer tests positive for Covid during the early portion of rehearsal, s/he will be removed from the

             production and the role will be reassigned.  Re-casting will also occur if this situation happens close to opening, and the role is small.  If a

             positive test occurs too close to opening night, the show may need to be delayed until any danger of Covid is obviously eradicated.  Any

             member of the company who believes they have been exposed to Covid should IMMEDIATELY contact their director who should

             IMMEDIATLEY contact the producer.  The producer is responsible for notifying the Executive Committee.

 

       6.  If the producer and director agree that they do not want to wear face coverings (shields,  masks) for rehearsals and performances the

            following rules will apply:

                  - If you have not auditioned your cast, the decision MUST be disclosed at audition time that the company will not be using face                                  coverings.

                  - If you have already cast your show, this agreement has to 100% unanimous by the entire cast and crew.  If one actor feels unsafe, it is

                    your responsibility as a director to make them feel safe.  If that means wearing face coverings, you must make that the rule.  The one

                   exception is:

                              -- If one actor wishes to mask up and personally doesn’t care if the rest of the cast does not, then they are allowed to without

                              penalty.

                                            - Block as much social distancing into the show as is possible.

                                            - Watch your social media posts!  It is your responsibility to protect MSP/WPH image. 

                                            - If the board learns that any actor or technician feels uncomfortable and the director is not accommodating, the board

                                              will step in to rectify the situation.

 

This document will continue until such time that the CDC offers new guidelines which inform The Main Street Productions, Inc. Board to revoke or revise it.  As the Covid situation is ever changing, the Covid Committee can offer amendments to this document at any time which must then be passed by the entire board by majority vote.