The Curious Savage
by John Patrick
Directed by Joseph Montano
THE STORY:
The Curious Savage tells the tale of Ethel Savage, an elderly widow who inherits $10 million from her late husband. She plans to donate the entire sum to individuals pursuing their ‘foolish dreams,’ much to the dismay of her stepchildren. To stop her from squandering their family fortune and tarnishing their legacy, they have her committed to a sanatorium called The Cloisters. There, among the kind-hearted residents, she discovers her true family. This heartwarming comedy contrasts the kindness and loyalty of psychiatric patients with the greed and hostility of so-called ‘normal people.’
SEEKING:
ETHEL SAVAGE (Mature Female) Ethel Savage, a resident at the Cloisters sanatorium, is known for her blue-tinted hair and her one-eyed teddy bear. Her stepchildren had her admitted, claiming she was demented. However, Ethel is perfectly sane and intends to use her inherited fortune to create a Memorial Fund in honor of her late husband, making various creative and unusual donations. This plan infuriates her stepchildren, who see her as an embarrassment and want the money for themselves. Mrs. Savage is a witty and kind-hearted individual who struggles to connect with
her own family but quickly bonds with the other guests at the Cloisters. She has a unique perspective on humanity and is dedicated to helping others achieve their “lifelong, foolish dreams”.
FAIRY MAY (Young Adult Female) Fairy May is a resident at the Cloisters sanatorium. Though she is quite ordinary in appearance, she imagines herself to be exceptionally beautiful. She struggles to separate reality from her fantasies and frequently fabricates stories. Despite this, she can be very kind-hearted. Fairy May exhibits a highly childlike demeanor, speaking with the tone and vocabulary of a young child.
FLORENCE WLLIAMS (Mature Female) Florence serves as a maternal figure for the residents at the Cloisters sanatorium. She believes she has a young son named John Thomas, although her infant son passed away long ago. Instead, she carries a doll and calls it John Thomas, convinced that he has the measles.
HANNIBAL (Adult Male) Hannibal is a resident at the Cloisters sanatorium. Formerly a statistician, he lost his job to a computer as technology advanced. Despite his poor violin skills, he considers himself to be a highly talented musician.
MRS PADDY (Mature Adult Female) Mrs. Paddy is a resident at the Cloisters sanatorium. She is almost entirely silent, only speaking to list the things she hates. The other residents say she stopped speaking normally after her husband once told her to “shut up.” She has given up electricity for Lent and often turns off the lights in a room without warning, startling everyone. Mrs. Paddy paints watercolor seascapes and, like Hannibal, mistakenly believes she is very talented. She also becomes very fond of Mrs. Savage, who was wrongfully placed in the sanatorium by her children.
DR EMMETT (Mature Adult Male) Dr. Emmett is the chief physician at the Cloisters sanatorium. He is deeply committed to his patients’ well-being and works tirelessly to ensure the Cloisters remain a safe haven for their treatment. Known for his kindness and understanding, Dr. Emmett stands up to the Savage children to protect their stepmother, Ethel, from harm after they wrongfully commit her.
JEFFREY (Young Adult Male) Jeffrey is a resident at the Cloisters sanatorium. He is a handsome young man possessing the dignity of someone much older. He survived a plane crash during the war, but now believes he has a large scar on his face, which he hides from everyone. In reality, his face is unscarred. He also cannot remember his marriage to Miss Willie, who works at the Cloisters, hoping he will one day recall their past. Jeffrey was once a professional musician but is now too shy to play in front of others.
MISS WILLIE (Young Adult Female) Miss Willie is a compassionate staff nurse at the Cloisters sanatorium. She is married to Jeff, a plane crash survivor who has lost his memory and doesn’t remember her. She works at the sanatorium, hoping that one day Jeff will recover and remember their past together. Despite her efforts to hide her feelings, she occasionally kisses his cheek and calls him by his pet name. Miss Willie is known for her kindness and warmth towards all the patients at the Cloisters. When Ethel Savage’s stepchildren come looking for valuable bonds their mother possesses, Miss Willie hides the bonds to protect Mrs. Savage from their greed.
TITUS (Young Adult Male) Titus, the eldest stepchild of Mrs. Savage, has conspired with his siblings to commit her to a sanatorium in a bid to seize her money. Like his brother (Samuel) and sister (Lily Belle), Titus is exceedingly greedy and not particularly intelligent. He is the least popular Senator in Congress, having bought his way into the position despite being woefully underqualified. Titus’s greed for his stepmother’s money leads to his growing frustration with her throughout the play.
LILY BELLE (Young Adult Female) Lily Belle, the middle Savage child, has conspired with her siblings to commit their stepmother, Ethel Savage, to a sanatorium in an attempt to seize her money. Like her two brothers (Titus and Samuel), she is exceedingly greedy and not very intelligent. Formerly married to a Slovak prince, Lily Belle has since remarried five times. She is arrogant, rude, and highly concerned with others’ opinions. When she first met Ethel as a small child, she bit her on the finger, leading to a strained relationship ever since.
SAMUEL (Young Adult Male) Samuel, the youngest of the Savage children, has conspired with his siblings to commit their stepmother, Ethel, to a sanatorium in a bid to seize her money. Like his brother (Samuel) and sister (Lily Belle), he is exceedingly greedy and not very intelligent. Samuel holds the unfortunate record of being the judge with the most overturned decisions in US history. Often overshadowed by his siblings, he is surprised when he finds opportunities to speak out.
All roles are open and all ethnicities & gender identities are encouraged to audition.
AUDITION DATES:
Friday, September 6 @ 7:30 PM
Saturday, September 7 @ 2 PM
WHERE:
Grace Hall, 116 City Island Avenue, Bronx
WHAT TO PREPARE:
Auditions will be on a first-come, first-served basis. No appointment is necessary and no monologue is required. Please bring a headshot/resume if available, but it is not required if you do not have one.
You can find the auditions sides here, they will be available at the auditions.
Inquiries: information@cityislandtheatergroup.com
SHOW DATES & TIMES:
Friday, November 8 @ 8 pm
Saturday, November 9 @ 8 pm
Sunday, November 10 @ 3 pm
Friday, November 15 @ 8 pm
Saturday, November 16 @ 8 pm
Sunday, November 17 @ 3 pm
CITG is a non-profit, non-equity theater organization.