On Stage This Month: "The Curious Savage"

My pal Sarah Diamond Burroway sends along this note about the upcoming show The Curious Savage:

The cast and crew moved in to Hillside Community Church on Monday and rehearsals are going well! Tech week is next week and the show opens on Friday the 13th.

For those unfamiliar with Hillside Community Church, it is located on the second floor at 1100 Greenup Avenue (near Game Stop and Arby's) in Ashland, Ky. Some people call it the Hope's Place Building (ground floor).

Anyway, the meeting place used by the church has a great little "black box" feel and Hillside, its congregation and pastor, Tim Holmes, are wonderful to open their doors to community theatre. The independent production of Albert's Hall was staged there last fall and Company of Dreams produced The Diviners at Hillside in July 2011.

As a member of the production staff, I can say rehearsals are a blast! The cast is putting a wonderful spin on a heart-warming story. There are so many funny moments and some unexpected physical comedy. It's a joy to work with so many talented actors who're embracing the spirit of this story and its intent.

Director Jim Maggard has a great vision for each character and how they intertwine to tell this tale. I hope you can come see a show!

By the way, the playwright, John Patrick, was from Louisville.

Below is the info:

Company of Dreams Theatre presents The Curious Savage by John Patrick.

Friday, April 13 and Saturday April 14 at 8 p.m. nightly. Tickets are $5 at the door.

Join the cast of The Curious Savage in this endearing adventure of high comedy, which will leave you with a feeling that the neglected virtues of kindness and affection have not been entirely lost in a world that seems motivated at times only by greed and honesty.

Mrs. Ethel P. Savage has been left $10 million dollars by her husband and wants to make the best use of it, in spite of the efforts of her grown-up stepchildren to get their hands on it. The stepchildren, knowing that the widow's wealth is now in negotiable securities and seeing they cannot get their hands on it, commit her to a "sanitorium," hoping to bring her to her senses.

But Mrs. Savage is determined to establish a fund to help others realize their hopes and dreams. In the sanitorium, she meets various social misfits, men and women who can not adjust themselves to life, people who need the help that Mrs. Savage can provide.

The Guests:
Florence - Kathy Waugh
Hannibel - Roger Hagley
Fairy May - Alana Mullins
Jeffrey - Brian Cook
Mrs. Paddy - Carol Spence

The Family:
Titus - Tyler Bradley
Samuel - Kenny Riffe
Lily Belle - Joanna Berner
Ethel P. Savage - Mary Baughman

The Staff:
Miss Wilhelmina - Brittany Shaw
Dr. Emmett - Greg Picklesimer

--
Director - Jim Maggard; Production Assistance - Sarah Diamond Burroway, Brian Duty, Tish Maynard, Josh Day and Kenny Riffe.

For more information call 606-922-2903.