Play opens in Washington this weekend

The Washington Community Theater opens its play, “The Curious Savage,” this week, with the show running several more nights over the course of the month.

Director Don Hughes said the play followed the life of a character named Ethel P. Savage, whose step children try to dissuade her from following her passions when her husband dies and leaves her the funds to do so.

“They place her into a fairly upscale facility for people with reality issues,” Hughes said. “It’s a charming bunch of characters that, for one reason or another, doesn’t quite fit with the outside world. And then things come to a head when her step children realize that all the money is missing.”

Hughes said that phrase, “reality issues,” was intentionally broad.

“They all have some part of just the reality of life that they just don’t want to face,” he said. “They’re safe, they don’t have to make a lot of decisions, they’ve all had some kind of disappointment that just doesn’t let them cope well. Early on, one of the conflicts that comes up is they don’t read the paper until it’s at least a week old because at that point, anything bad that’s happened, they know they can’t do anything about it, so there’s nothing to worry about.”

Hughes said the show was a joy to direct.

“It’s cleverly written, the characters are fun,” he said. “They’re obvious jokes that everybody will get, there’s some subtle jokes, some little one-line zingers that you have to think about … it also, as a comedy, has some pretty touching moments in it. The relationship that Mrs. Savage develops with the members in the cloisters, it’s pretty cool.”

That job is made all the more enjoyable by a talented cast.

“I feel really fortunate to work with these people,” he said. “There is a lot of experience from the youngest to the oldest on stage. As a director, it’s so easy to work with this kind of cast because they take very little prompting to find these characters and explore them and look for new things to do.”

Cast members said they like the show’s message.

“I think that it is not only hilarious, but it says a lot about life,” said Margo Ramsey, who plays Mrs. Savage. “Mrs. Savage’s character wants to give a lot of money to other people to help dreams come true. Meanwhile her step children are more concerned about keeping the money for themselves. It’s really about believing in people … everybody’s got something to give. There’s a lot of good messages.”

AnnaMarie Ward, who plays Miss Willie, said the show was about being your own person.

“I think the show speaks to being an individual, which feels like it resonates with our time,” she said. “You should be able to be an individual even if it makes other people uncomfortable … everyone wants to be their own person, and I think that’s important.”

Hughes added that the show was just plain fun.

“It’s a fun show,” he said. “I’ve seen this I don’t know how many times, and I still laugh every time. There’s parts that still make me laugh, parts that make me all teary. It’s a good show.”

“The Curious Savage” will run March 11, 12, 18 and 19 at 7:30 p.m. at the Washington Community Theater, and at 2:30 p.m. on March 20.

Comments: Kalen.McCain@southeastiowaunion.com