Colerain High School's THE CURIOUS SAVAGE
- Cincinnati Cappies
- 1 hour ago
- 9 min read
Review by Naomi Madaris, Walnut Hills High School Critic Team
When stepping foot inside the auditorium and being swept into the cozy set of The Cloisters, there was clearly only one rule that made sense: laughter! In Colerain High School's production of The Curious Savage, money, morality, and madness made an unpredictable but delightful show for audiences.
The show's history begins with playwright John Patrick in 1950, when the show premiered for the first time in New York. The comedy follows the story of 'mad woman' Ethel P. Savage, an eccentric character confined to a sanatorium after her late husband's children plotted to inherit her finances. She meets the residents of The Cloisters, each one having their own unique personality. However, things quickly escalate as Miss Savage cleverly tricks her stepchildren into going on a wild goose chase for ten million dollars. Overall, this comedic yet heartwarming spectacle explores what it means to be kind and to avoid greed.
Colerain High School was brave enough to take on this production, and they certainly delivered with a bold performance and creativity when it came to the technical, visual, and dramatic aspects of the show. The cast's passion and energy in several scenes granted a jovial experience as some moments elicited chuckles from audience members. Additionally, those behind the scenes working on visual aspects created a captivating atmosphere out of the lovely sanatorium on stage.
When it came down to leading captivation, Lily Flores gave a fascinating performance in her role as Miss Savage, exceptionally leading the diverse group of patients within The Cloisters. With witty comebacks and tender care for those around her, Flores made a strong presence on stage, resulting in many moments being precise and sharp, with fondness and compassion laced in her voice for fellow characters and peers.
However, the true caretaker was none other than Miss Wilhelmina, played by Makayla Bess. Bess captured Wilhelmina's character splendidly, providing audiences with a memorable blend of softness and kindness through stage direction and facial expressions. As a result, Bess stood out among the group she tended to. But if there was one character more curious than Miss Savage herself, it was definitely Hannibal, who was played by Axel Harris. Harris successfully brought out the dorky kind of charm that Hannibal entails, such as the brief moments of humor when he hopelessly played the strings of his violin, which caused wretched yet amusing music notes to fill the house.
On the flip side of the stage, the lighting didn't go unnoticed, thanks to the efforts of Hank Jablonski and Mara Schaedlich, along with the rest of the crew. The crew creatively came up with subtle, detailed light changes whenever the time of day would change in the setting. Nighttime brought about a darker, more dimmed light near the backdrop, and when day came, it became lighter. Speaking of the setting, Samantha Cooper, Lillian Hodge, and the rest of the set crew did a phenomenal job building and designing an intricate set that took homey and cozy to the next level, using handmade wainscoting on the walls and even a handmade piano.
All in all, the hard work of Colerain High School's cast and crew on The Curious Savage was incredibly evident and well-blended, deserving the laps of applause that came at the close of the curtains.
Review by Aashita Srivastava, William Mason High School Critic Team
In a world where odd feels almost ordinary, The Curious Savage, performed by Colerain High School, invited the audience into a realm where reality was blurred, motives were twisted, and the line between sense and nonsense, sane and insane, became unexpectedly thin.
Set in the 1950s, John Patrick's The Curious Savage centers around Ethel Savage, a widow whose stepchildren confine her to a sanitarium in hopes of gaining her inheritance. Within the walls of "The Cloisters," Ethel encounters five residents whose eccentric behaviors reveal their past traumas, longing, and vulnerability. These five work with Ethel to save her fortune while finding themselves through her eyes. Though a comedy, the play explores themes of greed, kindness, connection, and what actually defines a sane person.
Colerain High School delivered a praiseworthy production of this classic. From time-period accurate interior designing by their set crew to the cast's notable comedic timing, Colerain conquered the underlying challenges that come with this show, which include maintaining a balance between its inherent comedy and its pathos, avoiding one-dimensional characterizations, and ensuring consistent pacing.
Lily Flores, who played leading lady Ethel Savage, brought the feisty character to life with the perfect amount of sass and emotion. Flores successfully portrayed the widow's sensitive side, which was presented through her contrasting interactions with the soft residents and her greed-filled stepchildren.
Another noteworthy performance was by Jaidyn Madden, who played a quiet but passionate woman by the name of Mrs. Paddy. Despite having the least amount of lines, Madden won the hearts of the audience with her presentation of this complex character. There wasn't a single straight face in the house whenever she started spewing her carefully picked list of "things I hate." On the other hand, "awww" was all that could be heard when the audience finally got to see the long-awaited interaction between her and Flores. While their connection was heartwarming, another impeccable group of chemistry was seen between the ensemble of Savage siblings. These people include Carrie Schwettmann as Lily Belle (the pretentious gold-digger), Beckett Hammond-Bennett as Titus (the humorless Senator), and last but not least, Jeremiah Smith as Samuel (the awkward). These three made amazing character choices that not only depicted their individual characters' personalities but also worked extremely well with one another's characters.
The set created a clear visual sense of the play's period through carefully constructed elements that shaped the world of The Cloisters. Two tall bookshelves that were built by Colerain's set crew framed the room with a lived-in feel, while a painted backdrop beyond the window represented the locked garden. During blackouts and blueouts, a chandelier overhead emitted a soft glow, providing a visual anchor that carried the audience through transitions that otherwise might have felt awkward. One notable team was this show's stage management team, led by Hank Jablonski and Cayden Wopperer. They had many hard cues to call, one being when Mrs. Paddy is hitting the lights to turn them off. This cue was perfect most, if not all, times, and made for a very cohesive visual for the audience. It's evident they, and all crews of this show, put lots of effort into making it the best it could be.
Colerain High School's production of The Curious Savage took the audience through a whirlwind of emotions. Laughter, tension, but more importantly, it made each audience member think: What truly defines a person's sanity?
Review by Carissa Swango, West Clermont High School Critic Team
As the lights went out and the dim candles from the chandelier shone, so did the actors in Colerain High School's production of The Curious Savage. Colerain High School's performance of The Curious Savage was a passionate story of found family and perseverance.
The Curious Savage, written by John Patrick, is about Ethel Savage, an old lady who recently lost her husband and gained 10 million dollars due to his passing. Her greedy stepchildren, "The Savages," force her into a sanatorium, wanting the money for themselves. Through the bonds Ethel fosters with the other patients, she learns to stand up to her stepchildren and fight for herself.
Colerain's production was funny, bittersweet, and impactful; all the things you want in a good show. The cast tackled the themes of greed, sanity, and found family with so much care and thought. The Cloisters were such a cohesive group throughout the show, along with The Savages. It was delightful to watch Mrs. Savage go about her relationship with both groups.
Lily Flores had a wonderful performance as the leading lady, Ethel Savage. Her quick-witted, snarky remarks and body language perfectly encapsulated the character. Her ability to switch between comedic and sincere was seamlessly done. Her chemistry with the cast was unmatched, which made it even more fun to watch.
Beckett Hammond-Bennett, in the role of Titus Savage, and Carrie Schwettmann, in the role of Lily Belle Savage, were both incredibly hilarious to watch. They performed as two of the three main antagonists throughout the show. The dramatics of Lily Belle and the short-temperedness of Titus worked amazingly well together. Both actors played off each other so well, it felt as if they were really siblings.
The set design, led by Samantha Cooper, was so incredibly intricate and well thought out. The small details, from the objects on the bookshelf to the window in the back, all came together to make the world of The Curious Savage come together. There was so much to see in the set, it was enjoyable to look at even when the stage was empty. Another tech element that stood out was the lighting, led by Mara Schaedlich. The effect when the light switch was turned off and on was so well coordinated and timed. The effect was so impressive, most people didn't even realize the light switch wasn't real.
Colerain High School's production of The Curious Savage was not only funny, but poignant and heartwarming; a good end to a good show.
Excerpts From Other Top Reviews
"It is important to note the performance of Lily Flores as Ethel Savage, especially when it came to her eccentric but mostly sane personality. Any compliment she was given was waved off with a hand motion that was unique to her character and prompted chuckles from the audience whenever used. Flores expertly shared the stage with her fellow cast members but took charge when it was necessary, similar to Ashazia Crenshaw, who portrayed Fairy May, another resident in the institution. Crenshaw had the perfect balance of dramatic aloofness, using her impressive vocal range to show her emotions, from a squeak to a sigh."
-Lauren Hauser, William Mason High School Critic Team
"While the actors contributed greatly to the show, what stood out a lot were the technical elements that shone through. The set, designed by Samantha Cooper, Lillian Hodge, and Alexa Flores, is a stunning depiction of what a living area would look like in the '50s. All the way down to the little details on the shelves made all the difference when it came to depicting the time period. The set designers did a wonderful job of making the stage look as spacious as possible, and it looked very professional."
-Emma McDowell, West Clermont High School Critic Team
"The antagonists of the show, the Savage Siblings, were a true delight on stage. Beckett Hammond-Bennett was fantastic as the crooked politician Titus; he delivered a vast range of emotions on stage, from furious to utterly dumbfounded. Carrie Schwettmann was hilarious as the vain Lily Belle, with humorous moments of her frantically worrying about trivial problems such as smile lines. Finally, rounding out the trio was Jeremiah Smith, who was fantastic as the loathsome Samuel. The trio were wonderful on stage and played into their characters perfectly."
-Parker Lawhorn, Harrison High School Critic Team
"The lights, run by Hank Jablonski and Mara Schaedlich , made the atmosphere of the institution feel warm with the use of soft, golden hues. The outside of the institution was lit in dark-toned hues, contrasting the inside and reinforcing the show's theme of exploring sanity. Lighting cues were precise and coordinated seamlessly with actors when they flipped off a faux switch built into the set, adding to the authenticity of the production."
-Emily Benight, Harrison High School Critic Team
"In addition, Hannibal and Titus provided immensely appreciated comedic relief. Hannibal contributed supplemental improvements to this performance through his various terrible and scratchy violin performances and Axel Harris's nicely portrayed unexpected pieces of wisdom. Additionally, Beckett Hammond-Bennett was hilarious in his portrayal of Titus's greedy and opportunistic personality. Especially, the scene in which Mrs. Savage says she will finally tell him about where the bonds are located, prompting Beckett Hammond-Bennett to prance across the stage lovingly towards his stepmother."
-Berkley Clos, Highlands High School Critic Team
"Lilly Belle, Mrs. Savage's stepdaughter, was another memorable character. She was played by Carrie Schwettmann, who impressively demonstrated Lilly Belle's selfishness through dramatic movements and clear diction that were consistent throughout the show. The sanatorium residents, such as Jeffrey, a military veteran, worked together in order to contrast Mrs. Savage's stepchildren's greed with simplicity and kindness. Jeffrey was portrayed by Zavier Davis, who communicated his character's insecurity and reserved nature through his vulnerable performance."
-Maria Blaker, Loveland High School Critic Team
"Thanks to the hard work of Colerain High School's cast and crew, The Curious Savage shined a light on the value of finding compassion, kindness, and love in unsuspecting places."
-Charlotte Blaise, Clark Montessori High School Critic Team