As The Keeton Theatre brings John Patrick‘s beloved comedy The Curious Savage to the stage October 9-25, audiences are invited to explore the fine line between eccentricity and conformity, the complicated nature of family, and the question of what truly makes a person “normal.” For this JHPENTERTAINMENT Rapid Fire 20Q, we caught up with director Michael Welch and cast members Christina Shandor, Rick Heiman, and Kathleen McClanahan to discuss the characters they’re bringing to life, the discoveries they’ve made throughout the rehearsal process, and the themes that make this classic comedy as enjoyable today as when it debuted on Broadway back in 1950.
RAPID FIRE 20Q WITH THE KEETON’s THE CURIOUS SAVAGE DIRECTOR AND CAST
RAPID FIRE WITH THE CURIOUS SAVAGE DIRECTOR,MICHAEL WELCH
JHPENTERTAINMENT: What was it about John Patrick’s The Curious Savage that made you want to take on the challenge of directing this particular play?
MICHAEL WELCH: The timelessness of The Curious Savage drew me to the play. Its questions about mental health and what we consider “normal” still resonate today. The challenge is portraying the residents of The Cloisters not simply for laughs, but with heart, dignity, and sincerity. Ironically, the powerful Savage family often displays more troubling behavior than the people they consider abnormal. That contrast is what makes the play both funny and thought-provoking.
JHPENTERTAINMENT: In keeping with the sanatorium locale of The Curious Savage, let’s delve deeper, is there a some sort of Freudian connection between you and the career of Lillian Gish, one of the Grande Dames of the American Theatre? After all, your directorial debut was a 2023 production of Arsenic and Old Lace (Gish starred in the 1969 teleplay) and now you’re directing The Keeton’s The Curious Savage (Gish starred as widowed matriarch Ethel P. Savage in the Broadway debut in 1950). Coincidence…I think not! Ok, I’m kidding and only wanted to point out that connection between the two shows you’ve directed because that’s how my pop culture brain works…But seriously…For The Keeton’s production, local favorite Ann Street-Kavanagh stars as Ethel P. How has it been working with Ann on this particular project?
MICHAEL WELCH: That connection is provocative indeed. The only play that I have acted in twice is Harvey, which is set mainly in a sanitarium. Maybe I just have a sanitarium specialty. Ann has been a treasure to work with on this production. She is a consummate professional and strives to bring sincerity and strength to this role. Mrs. Savage is a tricky part that is in good hands with Ann.
JHPENTERTAINMENT: There’s a fascinating balance in The Curious Savage between broad comedy and some surprisingly poignant observations about family, money, happiness and what society considers “normal.” How have you approached finding that balance in this production?
MICHAEL WELCH: I’ve approached it by asking the actors to always play the truth of the characters. We don’t try to make the residents of The Cloisters funny—the humor comes naturally from the situations and their personalities. When those characters are treated with sincerity and dignity, the more poignant moments about family, money, happiness, and what we consider “normal” have much greater impact.
JHPENTERTAINMENT: Every director has a moment during rehearsals when something unexpectedly clicks and you realize, “Now we have it.” Was there a particular moment during this production when you felt the show really started coming together…OR…are you still finding your footing as tech week commences and opening night approaches?
MICHAEL WELCH: I found myself laughing at new moments during last night’s tech rehearsal. There was a “We have it” moment in Act 2 where everything was flowing just right. I told the cast and crew so during notes. We just have to maintain that energy throughout the run.
JHPENTERTAINMENT: Without giving anything away, what do you hope audiences will be thinking about—or perhaps seeing a little differently—when they walk out of The Keeton after experiencing The Curious Savage?
MICHAEL WELCH: As they leave The Keeton, I would love for the audience to be thinking about how there are more important things in this world than money. Money makes the world go round. However, it’s the people that we share it with that makes life truly worth living.
RAPID FIRE WITH CHRISTINA SHANDOR, THE CURIOUS SAVAGE‘s FAIRY MAY,
JHPENTERTAINMENT: Fairy May is certainly not short on personality. What was your first impression of her, and what have you discovered about her as you’ve gotten deeper into the role?
CHRISTINA SHANDOR: My first impression of Fairy was that she is the comedic role and really I feel brings some of the light hearted humor to the show! As I got deeper I also learned she is also someone who just is very optimistic even if it means being a pathological liar. She wants to see the joy and good in everything even when it’s not and will lie to make it seem like it is!
JHPENTERTAINMENT: Fairy May has some wonderfully colorful moments in the play. Is there a particular aspect of her personality that you’ve found especially fun to explore?
CHRISTINA SHANDOR: I loved exploring more of those raw human moments she has! Where she lets reality slip in more and you see her push it away before it can reach her out of fear. I found those more challenging and fun!
JHPENTERTAINMENT: The Cloisters is filled with characters who each have their own version of reality. How would you describe Fairy May’s place within this unusual little community?
CHRISTINA SHANDOR: I think she is the joy and sunshine of The Cloisters. She brings everyone together in being what would be seen as the loveliness and good.
JHPENTERTAINMENT: There are plenty of opportunities for comedy in this role, but what do you think audiences should understand about Fairy May beneath the humor?
CHRISTINA SHANDOR: She is super empathetic and scared. Fairy I think is someone who doesn’t want to see the hate and anger of the world so she chooses to always have a smile and lie so she can feel safe knowing that her way of seeing things is what’s familiar.
JHPENTERTAINMENT: What’s one idiosyncrasy in your own real life personality that, if misconstrued, might get you a one way ticket to The Cloisers?
CHRISTINA SHANDOR: I, like Fairy May, choose to always try and be super optimistic and pretend everything is fine even when things are going horribly wrong.
RAPID FIRE WITH RICK HEIMAN, THE CURIOUS SAVAGE‘s SAMUEL SAVAGE
JHPENTERTAINMENT: Samuel Savage has a very particular relationship to the events unfolding in The Curious Savage. What was the biggest challenge for you in figuring out exactly who Samuel is?
RICK HEIMAN: I had Samuel figured out pretty quick. My biggest challenge has been accustomed to the entire process since this is my first speaking part and first time on a stage. I watched my youngest son involved in theater through high-school and college and was always interested. After retiring from a 27 year career in law enforcement I decided it was time to give this a try. I’ve done several parts for TV and film as a background extra. I think the law enforcement has given me a great experience to pull from and use as an actor.
JHPENTERTAINMENT: What do you think motivates Samuel most strongly throughout the play, and has your understanding of that motivation changed as rehearsals progressed?
RICK HEIMAN: Samuel is driven by greed but I also believe he is a middle child who loves to instigate his siblings, especially Lilly Bell.
JHPENTERTAINMENT: There are moments when the characters in this play have very different ideas about what is right, what is fair and what constitutes happiness. Quite interesting considering Samuel Savage is a Judge. Where do you think Samuel stands on those questions?
RICK HEIMAN: Samuel has a very spotted history as a judge and has had a lot of his decisions reversed by other courts so he has twisted values and is highly driven by his greed.
JHPENTERTAINMENT: Samuel interacts with some wonderfully eccentric personalities throughout the play. Which relationship has been the most interesting for you to develop as an actor?
RICK HEIMAN: I’d have to say there are two, him being Mrs. Savage’s favorite stepchild and the way he loves to antagonize his sister.
JHPENTERTAINMENT: Samuel’s selfishness seems primarily motivated by the money his stepmother has hidden away. If you suddenly came into half a million, where would you hide it?
RICK HEIMAN: I’d pay off my mortgage and find another modest home far out of the city and 20 to 30 acres to use as a getaway. Maybe a nice European vacation would be thrown in and take my parents on another cruise. And of course help out close family members who might need a little help.
RAPID FIRE WITH KATHLEEN MCCLANAHAN, THE CURIOUS SAVAGES‘s MISS WILLIE
JHPENTERTAINMENT: Miss Willie is one of the many wonderfully unconventional personalities who make up The Cloisters. How would you describe her to someone who has never met her?
KATHLEEN MCCLANAHAN: Miss Willie is an incredibly kind young woman with fierce loyalties towards those she cares about.
JHPENTERTAINMENT: What is the most enjoyable part of stepping into Miss Willie’s particular way of seeing the world?
KATHLEEN MCCLANAHAN: Miss Willie sees the good in people (even all the quirky Cloisters residents) but knows where to draw the line. Seeing the kindness crack when the mess hits the fan is my favorite part of stepping into this character.
JHPENTERTAINMENT: While many of the characters in The Curious Savage find themselves at The Cloister’s, Miss Willie is there by choice, as a nurse wanting to keep an eye on her war pilot husband who lost his memory. Is this act purely selfless?
KATHLEEN MCCLANAHAN: I think Miss Willie is in the same shoes as many caretakers – conflicted with devotion and duty. There’s definitely love and selflessness there, but it comes with the hard edge of necessity and at least a hint of obligation.
JHPENTERTAINMENT: The play uses humor to explore some pretty serious ideas about individuality, acceptance and happiness. How do you see those themes reflected through Miss Willie?
KATHLEEN MCCLANAHAN: Miss Willie is living a life that’s quite different than what she had planned and it’s not entirely clear if she’s content with it or just good at putting on a brave face. The Cloisters residents may have fully accepted their version of reality, but I don’t know that any of the other characters, including Miss Willie, achieve this level of acceptance. I don’t know if it’s even truly possible – which is perhaps exactly what this play is meant to explore.
JHPENTERTAINMENT: What do you hope audiences take with them after having seen The Curious Savage?
KATHLEEN MCCLANAHAN: As Mrs. Savage says, I hope they remember that position doesn’t mean privilege and manners don’t mean morals. We may be surrounded by a lot of noise from famous and prominent people, but the good people closer to home are the ones who make life worth living.
With its colorful characters and sharp observations about the difference between social respectability and genuine humanity, The Keeton Theatre’s The Curious Savage offers audiences plenty to laugh about—and perhaps even plenty to think about long after the curtain falls. As Michael Welch, Christina Shandor, Rick Heiman, and Kathleen McClanahan reveal, beneath the play’s wonderfully eccentric exterior lies a story about compassion, loyalty, imagination, and the things that matter far more than money. And perhaps that is the most curious—and enduring—thing about John Patrick’s classic comedy.
The Keeton‘s The Curious Savage opens Friday, October 9 and runs through Sunday, October 25. CLICK HERE for tickets. For Friday and Saturday performances, doors are at 5:45pm with dinner service until 6:45 and show beginning at 7pm. Thursdays are show only with doors at 6:30pm and show at 7pm. For Sunday matinees, doors open at 12:45pm with meal service until 1:45pm and showtime at 2pm.
Next up following The Curious Savage, The Keeton presents their holiday offering Scrooge in Love on stage December 3-20. So you don’t miss out on upcoming shows at The Keeton Dinner Theatre, follow them on Facebook, X and Instagram.
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