“The Curious Savage,” opening this weekend at the MACC, teaches audience members a lesson about the true value of life in a humorous way, said Anne Rittenberry, publicity coordinator for the Signal Mountain Playhouse.
“It’s a really great show,” she said of the play, which focuses on a woman, Ethel Savage, who has just been left a great deal of money by her late husband.
Savage wants to spend it charitably, but her stepchildren want it for themselves, said Rittenberry. Through a chain of events, the woman comes to live with some very eccentric characters.
“This makes her resolve even more to give the money to charity,” said Rittenberry, who describes the play as a warm comedy – a departure from the more slapstick comedies the Playhouse typically performs.
One of the Playhouse actors had seen the play elsewhere and had enjoyed it so much that they suggested performing it in Signal Mountain, Rittenberry said.
“I think it’s a classic comedy that’s proven itself through 500 runs in different communities,” she added of the play, written by John Patrick in the 1950s. “It has such an outstanding cast and director.”
Directed by David Wood, the local performance features Brianna Graham, Irene Schickel, Cameron Beeching, Rob Inman, Patti Gross, Tim Forsythe, Lisa Beeching, John Nichols, Michelle Ford, Lee Abelson and Cindy Procious.
Showings are Feb. 7, 8, 14, 15, 21 and 22 with dessert served at 6:45 and the play beginning at 8 p.m.
Tickets are $14 and may be purchased at the door with cash or check only, or reservations can be made by calling the MACC at 886-1959.