The Curious Savage
at Harriton High School

Reviewed on November 19, 2021

Katie Locke
Episcopal Academy
Submitted for publication to WordPress Site and Cappies Page

Although Harriton High School set the stage for a black and white performance, their production of The Curious Savage encouraged audiences to question if life really should be viewed with a monochrome lens.

In order to attain her wealth, Mrs. Savage's three stepchildren send her to a mental institution called The Cloisters. As Mrs. Savage befriends the quirky and lovable residents of The Cloisters, it is revealed that she hid ten million dollars left to her by her late husband. Mrs. Savage's thrill for mischief escalates the rage of her stepchildren, and as The Cloisters inhabitants and Savage children interact, the audience is encouraged to ponder who the real savages are.

Both the technical aspects and acting abilities in Harriton High School's production of The Curious Savage were quite impressive. The tech crew utilized their creativity, building a realistic black and white setting which established the tone of the play. The gait and mannerisms of each actor was specific to their role. This was especially effective when creating juxtaposition between The Cloisters residents and the Savage children. Additionally, the actors never once broke character. Even if an actor did not have many lines, they continued to react realistically without drawing the audience's attention away from the central focus of the scene.

Ally Fenton, playing Mrs. Savage, had a commanding stage presence. Onstage for the majority of the show, Fenton was assigned a difficult role, but continuously portrayed Mrs. Savage's grace, humor, and mischievous tendencies with ease.

The Cloisters residents (Ava Susser-Stein, Gage Klaumenzer, Nel Blinman, Aiden Kaliner, and Olivia Twomey) brought warmth and humor to the production. Each actor was clearly dedicated to their role, and their interactions were reminiscent of a real family. The Savage children (Sam Bailey, Julia Halpern, and Jack McCullough) had distinct body language, differentiating their personalities while simultaneously conveying their identical, wealth-driven goals. Bailey, Halpern, and McCullough beautifully displayed the thoughts of their characters while their fury and resentment slowly grew as the show progressed.

Inspired by the 1950s time period, the Harriton High School tech crew established a completely black and white setting. The grayscale set, designed by Sophie Baskin, perfectly fit the tone and atmosphere of the show, and the black and white props (Nel Blinman, Marlena Marg Bracken, and Alice Deutsch) completed the scene. This theme was continued by the detailed costuming of Julia Hoeffner, Tess McCullough, and Tommy McShane. Many of The Cloisters residents had a distinctive pop of color in their outfits, acting as a small but impactful contrast to the costumes of the Savage children.

The precise acting choices and well thought-out technical designs of Harriton High School's The Curious Savage provided a delightful and insightful experience for audiences.

Anna Walmsley
Upper Merion Area High School
Submitted for publication to WordPress Site and Cappies Page

Ten million dollars gone missing? A failed actress committed to a sanatorium? Three top-society siblings meet their ruin? Harriton's The Curious Savage has all this and more. When desperation sets in, who is really mad, and who is sane?

John Patricks' 1950 comedy is a quirky, fast-paced story about the relativity of sanity and finding your true family. After the passing of her husband, Mrs. Ethel P. Savage inherited a hefty sum of 10 million dollars in the form of half-million dollar bonds. Seeking to claim the cash for themselves, her three step-children commit her to The Cloisters, a sanatorium housing a variety of endearing patients.

Harriton's students transformed the stage into a time machine. Everything was taken into account to take the audience back in time. The set was painted black and white, lighting gels were modified, and classical music was played between scenes by a three-person pit orchestra. Stepping into Harriton's auditorium was like stepping onto the set of a 50s TV show!

Mrs. Savage herself was played by Ally Fenton, whose theatrics and charismatic expressions amazed. Fenton displayed a spectacular range of emotions, from making tender-hearted connections, to performing in a most extravagant manner. Her grandiose way of speaking, coupled with her grand flourishes and sweeping gestures, dominated the stage.

The supporting cast brought a delightful charm to the table. The Cloisters residents were especially endearing, creating a warm, inviting atmosphere. Most notably was Fairy May, played by the brilliant Nel Blinman. Blinman's comedic timing and energetic nature truly captured the familial aspect of the show. Starkly contrasting Blinman's enthusiasm was the Savage step-children trio, namely Titus (Sam Bailey), Lilly Belle (Julia Halpern), and Samuel (Jack McCullough). Their snooty, arrogant, and bratty attitudes proved that money is the root of all evil. Bailey, Halpern, and McCullough perfectly captured how their characters were driven by greed and greed alone.

Harriton's production teams nailed every aspect of this performance. Along with having a black and white set, every prop was carefully selected for this show. Whether it be the student-made parcheesi board, a wall mounted dartboard, or antique radio, the props were flawless. The costumes were just as seamless (pun intended)! A concurrent theme of good vs evil was shown through the black and white costume design. And, to add in some additional flair, each character was given their own pop of color!

Harriton's The Curious Savage combined melodrama, comedy, and family into one package, and tied it with a technologically-stunning bow!

Anna Fattizzo
Upper Darby School District
Submitted for publication to Cappies Page

Harriton High School's production of The Curious Savage explored the blurred lines between the sane and the insane. Harriton's production also happened to be in black and white. How can a play be done in black and white? Read on to find out how student creativity led to a unique and memorable production of The Curious Savage!

The Curious Savage was first published in 1951. Written by John Patrick, the play blends mystery and comedy. The plot follows Mrs. Ethel P. Savage who is checked into an institution by her three stepchildren out of concern for her "frivolous" spending. While institutionalized Mrs. Savage befriends a group of lovable inpatients "The Cloisters." As the plot progresses it becomes clear that Mrs. Savage is merely a charming eccentric widow and that her stepchildren are after her money. When the money in question suddenly goes missing, the play dissolves into delightful and heartbreaking chaos.

It was truly wonderful to see a high school theatre production again after the Covid-19 shutdown. Harriton High's production included several exciting elements that celebrated student artistry. The production followed a black and white theme true to the 1950's time period. From costumes to lighting the black and white elements helped strengthen the thematic contrasts within the play.

The character of Mrs. Savage is meant to be a chaotic mix between eccentric and compassionate. Ally Fenton's portrayal of the character was spot on. Fenton impressively used body language and hand gestures to convey the character's disgust with her stepchildren. Fenton also struck the difficult tonal balance of the character. As Mrs. Savage developed friendships with The Cloisters, Fenton radiated warmth and tenderness.

The supporting cast played well off of Fenton's energy. The hilarious tension between Mrs. Savage and the stepchildren could not have been achieved without Sam Bailey's hot-headed take on Titus and Julia Halpern's exasperated Lilly Belle. The Cloisters worked well together as an ensemble with Nel Blinman's charming portrayal of Fairy May's innocence standing out.

The technical elements were challenging considering the black and white theme. The costumes were especially unique as pops of color were used sparingly on certain characters to convey personality. Contrasts between light and dark were also used with both lighting changes and set pieces. Although there were a few missed microphone cues the, actors were unfazed and projected well.

Harriton High School's production of The Curious Savage featured enchanting performances and spotlighted student creativity. After a long year without the arts, Harriton's production captures the joy of what we were all missing. Make sure to check out your local high school's theatre productions!

Kyra Keenan
Upper Merion Area High School
Submitted for publication to Cappies Page

A stuffed bear. A memorial fund. And ten million dollars (in half million dollar bonds). The question is… where are they? Harriton's The Curious Savage took familial drama and greed to an entirely different level.

Though originally produced in 1950, The Curious Savage still holds comedic merit today. The story follows Mrs. Ethel Savage: an elderly, but more than anything, spunky woman. She intended to create a memorial fund in honor of her late husband and his fortune, but her ill-intentioned stepchildren instead sentenced her to The Cloisters sanatorium. There, she is greeted by a group of misfit patients, each with their own quirks. As the story progresses, the audience begins to wonder who really should be confined.

With the black and white set, the old-fashioned music, and the antique radio, this performance truly felt like a step back in time into a 1950s television series. The entire cast and crew worked together to age their stage a few decades, and their work certainly paid off!

Mrs. Savage, portrayed by the outstanding Ally Fenton, thoroughly stole the show- and not just because of her bright blue hair. The actress consistently remained in character, as displayed through her comedic timing and body language. From the way she lounged on the couch, to the way she laughed, Fenton certainly transformed the character into her own.

Working by Fenton's side was The Cloister residence. This ragtag team of patients each displayed their character's individual dynamics and wacky mannerisms. Notably, Nel Blinman, playing Cloister patient Fairy May, had an excellent performance of eccentric lines creating a lovable character all around! They showed off fantastic chemistry with Mrs. Savage, as both performers' characters contrasted so greatly. Along with Blinman, the ensemble of the spoiled Savage children (Julia Halpern, Sam Bailey, and Jack McCullough) presented an astonishing performance as well. In all of their movements, they gave off an intentional upturned-nose stubbornness, bringing the evilness of the outside world into The Cloisters sanatorium.

Harriton's production crew outdid themselves with the hard work put into this performance. The immense detail of the set gave it a homey atmosphere, contributing to the fact that Cloisters is not your typical sanatorium. The crew also used sound effects, unique lighting, and a three person pit, which played transition music. The most extraordinary technical feature was the warm toned lighting and spotlight at the end of the performance, giving the comedic play a touching conclusion.

Thus, Harriton's Theatre Company put "the illusion of contentedness" to the tune of a comedy in The Curious Savage.