"Great job, you guys!" was director
Susie Zimmer's excited comment as she gathered the cast and crew of "Curious Savage" around her.
It's a tradition after performances to give "notes" (mini-critiques about how to make the next performance even better), but from the grin on her face on opening night, it was hard to imagine anything but thumbs-up praise.
"Curious Savage" is the first dramatic presentation at the Santa Clarita Christian School in several years. But kids and parents are already looking forward to the next one.
Zimmer, who graduated from Master's College with a bachelor's degree in music education, joined the school staff this year and is an enthusiastic leader/promoter for the drama department.
Her favorite verse from the Bible is Psalm 19:14, "May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight." If the audience response to opening night is any indication, she's fulfilling that prayer.
The drama department is made up of students from grades 9-12. Besides the cast and crew, many youths volunteered to be servers for the pre-show dinner (supplied by Rattler's BBQ).
Josh, our polite and efficient server, said he had some restaurant experience, but most of the guys and gals had not. (You'd never know it!)
The 1950s era play, "Curious Savage," was written by
John Patrick (who won the Pulitzer Prize for "The Teahouse of the August Moon"). It's the heartwarming story of Mrs. Ethel Savage, a wealthy and generous widow, whose main desires are to pursue her own dreams and to give away her millions to help other people do the same.
Taylor Tronson, a junior at SCCS, plays this lead with skill and panache.
Mrs. Savage's three greedy step-children have a different idea. They declare her incompetent and commit her to a mental institution in hopes of getting their hands on her money before she gives it all away.
Unfortunately for them, she has hidden the money and refuses to tell where.
Rudy Acosta plays Sen. Titus Savage. His looming size and angry posturing are perfect for the role of the demanding elder sibling.
Caleb Lim is the dour Judge Samuel, who tries to appease both his siblings, but is often "caught in the middle."
Alison Birch plays the beautiful but ruthless step-daughter, Lily Belle. She performs the haughty socialite role with classy style.
Mrs. Savage meets and grows to love a motley group of flawed, but hilarious characters in the asylum. Florence (
Sarah Haller) believes a doll is her lost son; Mrs. Paddy (the nimble-lipped
Francesca Long) has given up speaking except for rapidly reciting lists of the things she "hates."
Ex-soldier, Jeffrey (
Jacob Henson) suffers from survivor's syndrome and believes his smooth face is horribly scarred. The lovable, mustachioed Hannibal (played very convincingly by
Alicia Martin, the only teacher in the cast) is a math-whiz and a terrible violist who thinks he's a virtuoso.
Stephanie Lavaggi plays Fairy May, probably the most delightful character of all. Her flamboyant dress, outrageous mannerisms, and comic quips often bring shouts of laughter from the audience.
The asylum is run by Dr. Emmett (the stylish and charmingly accented
Elisa Adams) and Miss Willie (
Alexa Dillon) the volunteer nurse with an eye for the soldier. They try to shield Mrs. Savage, but when the step-children, angry at being tricked and humiliated, demand a drastic solution, the good doctor must assent. Only a sly move on the part of a few of the "inmates" saves the day.
SCCS's production of "Curious Savage" is a delight to watch and is as professional as any community theatre production. Director Zimmer, her A.D.
Shannon Houchin, the set designers and all the crew deserve a hearty round of applause ... which they received, along with the cast, on opening night.
Santa Clarita Christian School, whose motto is "Teaching Minds and Training Hearts for God," is located in Canyon Country. Visit the Web site,
www.sccs.cc.
(Double click on photos to see larger images.)