SST's 'The Curious Savage' a pure delight
by Susan Stein

The cast of The Curious Savage. photo by Susan Stein

There is an old German proverb: Children and Fools are telling the truth.

In the play "The Curious Savage", now presented by South Simcoe Theatre, the saying makes sense, although it does not involve children.

The characters are "guests" at an institution, an eccentric, smart and wealthy widow, her family and staff members.

For a subtitle to the play by John Patrick, I would give it "Beware of greedy children". They manage to have their step mother institutionalized when they find out she is leaving her fortune to charities.

After arriving at the asylum with a toy teddy bear, Mrs. Savage, pretending to be off the rocker, makes fast friends with her fellow inmates and brings to the surface the causes and circumstances which brought on their mental illness.

She also convinces the doctor and nurse that she is normal, in full mental capacity.

As for her stepchildren, who come to "the Cloisters" to coax her into giving her bonds to them, she uses funny ways and zany antics to make fools of themselves, doling out the "just rewards" to them.

So let me present with pride and joy the cast:

Mrs. Ethel Savage - Janet Lord-Geryk. She is known to patrons of SST for many years in different roles. She is perfectly suited to this role, drawing on her own life for inspiration.

Christine Murray as Fairy May, is tops. The way she contorts her body, how she seeks attention, makes this a true comedy.

Sally Neving as Mrs. Paddy, forsakes reality, reciting all kinds of words in rhymes

One can only commiserate with poor Hannibal - James Puhky, playing the violin thinking to be a virtuoso, but one must be proud of James to bring that role to such prominence.

Brandon Crone as Jeffrey, who suffers from shell shock, imagining that his face is marked by scars, covers it with his hand.

Let us now meet the nasty family: Titus, Samuel and Lily Belle. Lorie Hanly as Lily Belle, is so well cast as the meanest of them, that one can not imagine her as a loving mother of four in real life.

I detest Titus, and Samuel, those scheming, merciless brothers, so well portrayed by T.B. 'Marv' Bishop and Deane Hay, that it is easy to think they are like that in real life.

Amber Murphy is Wilhelmina, the charge nurse at "The Cloisters". Amber, who has debuted in SST's production of Birdie, is a recent graduate of Banting High School, will go to university next year.

For Baron Watson, the role as Dr. Emmett, is a first and he loves being the psychiatrist.

And then there is the Teddy Bear, his role is one of great importance.

This marvellous production would not be possible without the highly motivation and talent of Candy Pryce as director. With her patience and insight of the play's characters, she is able to bring out the best in each actor. It is Candy's first as director.

Kudos to the crew of Steve Little; Miriam Keegan - stage manager; Christina Luck set design; Denise MCQuarrie - costumes; Jill Jones - props; Kathy Simpson - sets; Rae Smith - light designer with the help of Tarah Griffith.

"The Curious Savage" is staged at the South Simcoe Theatre on Cookstown's Hamilton Street and will be performed for the next three weeks - Thursday, Friday, Saturday at 8 pm. and Sunday at 2 pm.

For tickets, call Box Office 705-458-4432.