savages!

"Oh, no! Has the rat chewed up something?"

 

LOL!, No, not little vermin. I haven't seen any sign of the space invader for a couple of days now. And that's very good!

 

"Then, what are you talking about??"

 

The play I saw at the Savannah Arts Academy tonight! Their 16-member repertory troupe chose "The Curious Savage", a play from the 1950's, and it was magnificent!!! Jada Banks directed it and she was even there for the intro tonight! I'm glad I was there, as she will be in her role in "Ragtime" for every other performance.

 

"How wonderful to see her again! What was the play about?"

 

It was a comedy, set in the decade of my birth, and they used clothing of that period. Moreover, they changed clothes from one day to the next, to mark the passage of time. Very nice idea, that, as it allowed the cast plenty of outfits to play in. This first scene is in Act 1, and has the inhabitants of The Cloisters in the social room.

 

"The Cloisters? Like, Jekyll Island?"

 

Same name as that resort, but, like I said, these were inhabitants, not tourists. From left to right are Miss Wilhelmina, in blue; she's the nurse. Then there's Florence (with her baby doll), Hanni, Fairy May (standing on a chair by the bookcase), Jeffrey, and Mrs. Paddy in the rightmost pink chair. They have all gathered there because a new inhabitant is due to arrive and they are waiting to meet her.

"Very nice! But weren't Paddy and Hanni men in the original play?"

Yes, they were, but Calliope Cooper and Brooklyn Barton were excellent in the roles of the list-spouting artist and the tone-deaf violinist.

"Hey, I was just asking, in case anyone was confused. Carry on, dear."

Thanks. So, as I said, the inhabitants were awaiting a new arrival. They were hustled into the hall as the Savages arrived, though. Here they are, the four of them: stepson Samuel, stepdaughter Talia, and stepdaughter Lily Belle, with the widow Ethel sitting in the pink chair with her teddy bear. (smile!) Then there's Doc Emmett and nurse Wilhelmina rounding out the picture. Quite confrontational, isn't it?

"For sure! I take it that Ethel didn't want to be there?"

Correct! The three stepkids - a failed judge, a pushy Senator, and an oft-wed pseudo princess - want the ten million dollars left by their father. However, it's tied up in a memorial fund set up by widow Ethel, who believes it would be better used to grant "the desires of people desperate to be foolish", as deemed worthy by the fund managers (a mailman, a veterinarian, a gardener, and the widow).

"What an interesting idea: granting wishes of ordinary people! Sounds a lot like something Fliss of Kickstarter once did and that Fliss of Nerdfighters of Kiva still does."

Oh, yes, nice catch! I hadn't drawn that parallel until you said it!

"You're welcome. Now, how did the story turn out?"

Oh, please, I don't want to spoil the fun! But, if you've seen "Trading Places" or "Brewster's Millions", then you know how crazy the thought of free money can make folks! And I'm not speaking of the asylum inhabitants, either! Very funny story!!! Kudos to the entire cast!!! Kudos to the stage and costume crew!!! Kudos to the lighting and sound crew!!! Who knows, I just may go see it again tomorrow night or Saturday afternoon!!!

"Seriously???"

You betcha! And it was only $5 for me, as a senior or as a veteran. (smile!) it's still a steal at only ten dollars. That's the best price in town for live theatre!!!