‘Curious Savage’ Comedy Shows ‘True Collaboration’ at Westfield Playhouse

Basile Westfield Playhouse’s production of “A Curious Savage” — which opens tonight and runs for two weekends — is a wonderful example of “true collaboration” between local community theaters, says its play director Nancy Lafferty.

Props, furniture and costumes not only come from the Playhouse but also from The Belfry Theater in Noblesville and Mud Creek Players’ theater on Indianapolis’ northeast side.

“That speaks to not only the generosity of those organizations but to the understanding and camaraderie of all of the theaters which make an effort to assist each other when possible,” she said.

“We all know what it’s like to need a prop, or costume or set piece. We are all in need of those items from time to time. How wonderful to share what we have with neighboring theaters. It makes all of our shows better, and all of our lives more efficient,” she said.

Lafferty said there are two items used in this comedy that appeared on The Belfry stage in 2004, when Noblesville’s Ron Richards directed “The Curious Savage,” the only time The Belfry has ever brought the show to the stage in its 57 years. In that show 18 years ago, Lafferty was cast as the lead, Ethel P. Savage.

The teddy bear that Mrs. Savage carries around, and the hat that Mrs. Savage wears upon her arrival, in the Westfield production, are both being borrowed from The Belfry.

“Ron Richards purchased the bear, and had shown me in July that he still had the bear sitting on a rocking chair in his home,” said Lafferty, who asked permission to borrow the bear for her show, and he agreed to let her use it.

Noblesville’s Norma Floyd, a Belfry costumer, picked out a hat for Lafferty to wear in the 2004 “Curious Savage” play. “She told me to keep it when the show was over. “For some reason, that hat remained on a shelf in my closet from that point on.” Lafferty was thrilled to dust off the hat and bring it to the Westfield Playhouse for the 2022 Mrs. Savage to wear in the show.

Young costumer Addie Taylor, who was born about 40 years after the play is set, has been having a great time choosing, designing and creating the costumes.

“It was important to me that the costumes not only reflect the time but lead in telling the story, as well. Specifically, with the residents…it was important to me that as the audience learns and starts to see their inner beauty, the residents’ costumes start to reflect it as well,” Taylor said. “The costumes start out super dull and almost mold into the set because the outside world doesn’t see them as individuals. Color is then added as we meet them and fall in love with them.”

Taylor said the Savage family costumes were fun to create, as well. “I researched old 1951 fashion ads and mimicked them for Lily Belle’s (played by Jan Borcherding of Noblesville) costume.”  Taylor loves this costume, worn during the opening of the play. “I found an old ad for Vogue (Magazine) and was able to recreate it,” she said.

“Costuming this show has been a real dream. I am super lucky to work with a director like Nancy Lafferty. We talked about her vision of the play, and then I was given free reign to create my own vision off of hers. Together, I really think we created something magical.” Taylor said.

Lafferty chose “The Curious Savage” play to submit to Basile Westfield Playhouse “because it is a tender, heartwarming story filled with humor and emotion.”

The storyline? Mrs. Savage has been left $10 million by her husband and wants to make the best use of it, despite the efforts of her grown-up stepchildren to get their hands on it. It’s a warm comedy that compares the kindness and loyalty of psychiatric patients with the greed and hostility of so-called “normal” people.

The play is 70 years old, Lafferty said, “and yet, the themes and characters have stood the test of time. It is as relevant today as it was in 1951, when it was published.”

Lafferty, a guest director at the Westfield Playhouse, is finally bringing her first show to fruition on a stage other than her home theater.

Two years ago, in March 2020, Lafferty was a week away from opening “A Raisin in the Sun” at the old Westfield Playhouse in Eagletown, “when the world shut down for the pandemic.” Eight months later, in November 2020, she tried to do the show again, at the new Playhouse. “We were once again, one week from opening, when we had a Covid outbreak within the cast and could not continue.”

Until this Westfield production, she has solely been a director at The Belfry. “As is often the case in Central Indiana, due to the limited number of theater directors available, it is not uncommon for directors to direct in multiple theater houses, just as actors audition and perform in multiple theater houses,” she said. “I do consider The Belfry my home theater, but it is a good experience to direct for another theater.” She said many of the actors in the “Curious Savage” production have been on The Belfry stage.

As always, Lafferty is very grateful for the theater community in Central Indiana.

“Theater is, of course, a powerful performing art, but it is also a profound way to build new friendships, and to learn about ourselves and each other.”

She said, “I believe we become better people when we are involved in theater. We learn how to collaborate and support each other. Theater impacts all of us: actors, crew members, directors and patrons. It’s a fascinating art that makes the world so much more beautiful.”

Contact Betsy Reason at [email protected]