Directed for LCCT by Chelsey Juenemann
Note: The Curious Savage will not be performed Easter Weekend (April 3-5, 2026).
John Patrick's bittersweet comedy, about a wealthy widow whose greedy stepchildren commit her to a sanitarium, celebrates whimsy and skewers notions of "sanity" with warmth, humor and dignity. 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. Unruffled, Ethel maintains her dignity, turns the tables on her ungrateful stepchildren and reaches the happy ending we all want. 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.