
Penned by playwright John Patrick, THE CURIOUS SAVAGE premiered on Broadway in 1950 starring Lillian Gish. The gentle but also subtly screwball comedy asks an interesting question, “Who is really crazy and who is sane?” Well received by audiences, this warm, humorous, and charming play has stood the test of time. In 2025, The Group Rep proudly presents THE CURIOUS SAVAGE for today’s audiences.

Steve Young, Kathleen Taylor, and Danny Salay – Photo by Doug Engalla
The time is 1950, and the place is The Cloisters, a private psychiatric facility in Massachusetts. Ethel Savage (Sara Shearer) has just been admitted by her step-children Senator Titus (Danny Salay), Judge Samuel (Steve Young), and often-married actress Lily Belle (Kathleen Taylor). It seems that Ethel’s husband, a very wealthy man, died recently – and left millions to his beloved second wife Ethel. The Savage children are convinced that Ethel is insane. She wants to give all of the money away to people who want to follow their dreams but were prevented by lack of cash. As it turns out, she has hidden those millions so that the “kids” can’t touch them – and they are desperate to find out where.

Amy Shaughnessy and Christopher Landis – Photo by Doug Engalla
The Cloister’s “guests” are a motley lot with issues of their own, including Florence (Maria Kress), who dotes on a doll she believes is her son who died in infancy), Hannibal (Patrick Anthony), a pencil-pushing statistician who lost his job to an electronic calculator and now believes that he is a concert violinist), Jeffrey (Christopher Landis), a veteran and the only survivor in a wartime plane crash which killed all his military crew and now believes that he has ugly scars on his face), Mrs. Paddy (Julie Davis), a woman whose only words have become lists of the things she hates after her husband told her to shut up and now believes that she is a talented artist), and Fairy May (Jessica Kent), a plain woman who believes that she is beautiful. The group is tenderly tended to by psychiatrist Dr. Emmett (Lloyd Pedersen) and nurse Wilhemina (Amy Shaughnessy), who has secrets of her own.

Steve Young, Danny Salas, Kathleen Taylor, and Sara Shearer – Photo by Doug Engalla
Skillfully helmed by Doug Engalla, THE CURIOUS SAVAGE is appealing, intriguing, and very funny – a brilliant combination which held the audience’s attention throughout. Patrick’s well-written play is delightful and keeps on tickling the audience’s funny bone as the often poignant tale unfolds. Kudos to the large cast members with a special nod to Sara Shearer, who manages to hold everything together until the story comes full circle. Mareli Mitchel-Shields’ set design and Shon Le Blanc’s costumes are perfectly 1950s, and Nick Foran’s lighting and Brent Beerman’s sound keep the environment just where it belongs. This is a must-see production which will charm, amuse, entertain – and yes, sometimes prove thought provoking. It is eerily timely for a story that takes place over 70 years ago. You won’t want to miss this.

Lloyd Pedersen and Sara Shearer at the Talk Back after the Show – Photo by Elaine L. Mura
THE CURIOUS SAVAGE runs through February 23, 2025, with performances at 8 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays and at 2 p.m. on Sundays. The Group Rep performs at the Lonny Chapman Theatre, 10900 Burbank Blvd., North Hollywood, CA 91601. Tickets are $36 (discounts for seniors and students available). For information and reservations, call 818-763-5990 or go online.
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