The Curious Savage

By John Patrick

Book Overview

When Ethel Savage's late husband leaves her a small fortune, she decides to make the best of it, establishing a fund to support various dreamers with whimsical aspirations. But her three greedy stepchildren - a socialite, a senator and a judge - commit her to a mental institution, hoping to "bring her to her senses." In the sanitarium, a warm and inviting home known as "The Cloisters," Ethel befriends the other "guests," a colorful crew of kind, generous and delusional souls. In time, Ethel finds happiness with them and plans to spend the rest of her life among them. Meanwhile, the stepchildren, discovering that Ethel has hidden the family fortune, attempt to browbeat her into confessing where the money has been stashed. With warmth, humor and dignity, The Curious Savage celebrates those who are often overlooked, emphasizing kindness, affection and empathy in a world that too often rewards greed and ambition.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0822202603
• ISBN13: 9780822202608
• Release Date: January 1998
• Publisher: Concord Theatricals
• Length: 90 Pages
• Weight: 0.23 lbs.

Customer Reviews

Great Play

I love this play. The more I read it the more I love it. I'm currently rehearsing as Mrs. Savage, we open in March. I love all the characters, and it's so sweet-especially the storyline between Willie and Jeff. There's a lot of comedy, some really good message, a little omance, and some suspense at the end. A great read :)

Fantastic Play

I am hoping to be in the performance of this play. I have read it twice so far today and that was after my audition this morning. I do hope I get to play any of the characters... they are ALL so very lovable and fun. I enjoyed the reading of it very much and hope the good read can be magnified on stage. Depends entirely on dirrection of corse

Awesome!

I saw John Patricks The Curious Savage on stage and I think it's awesome and than went and bought this book and I love it! Mrs Savages step children belong in a zoo!

Wonderful Story

I was introduced to "The Curious Savage" last fall when I played Miss Willie in a college theatre production. I instantly fell in love with all the characters in the story. John Patrick perfectly created characters whom society has labeled as "crazy," who are in fact, fairly close parallels to everyone in the world. The play mixes drama with comedy in a way that honestly leaves you with "warm fuzzies." Every character plays wonderfully off of the others and the lively and interesting dialogue helps suppport the strong plot. It would be as enjoyable a read as it would to perform in and see in production.

A wonderful take on society

Although this play takes place around 1950, it's certainly speaking through the ages. As someone who has read and also performed as Jeff in this play, you can relate the message of greed and want against our society. John Patrick takes a bunch of "Crazy People" and through them and Mrs. Savage and the Savage children shows us that all a human truly wants is to want nothing, but that's not possible. We need to strive for something in society, and sometimes that means being foolish...such as Mrs. Savage is. Everyone can relate to a character in this show, and I would recommend it to anyone wanting to do a show or read a play that is beautiful in it's meaning.