This October, the Moorpark College Theatre Arts department will present the comedic play “The Curious Savage” by John Patrick on the Performing Arts Center Main Stage.
The ensemble will be performing on select dates between Oct. 12-22. In addition to these eight showtimes, the department will be hosting a free morning show for Moorpark College students on Oct. 17 at 10 a.m. with ASL interpreters.
“The Curious Savage” is set in the 1950s and follows Ethel Savage, an elderly woman institutionalized in a sanatorium by her greedy stepchildren after she intends to spend her inheritance on nonmaterialistic experiences. Instead of feeling punished, Savage finds relief in the sanatorium, as the kind residents give her hope in a brighter world.
Moorpark College Theatre Arts Instructor Suzanne Fagan is looking forward to sharing “The Curious Savage” and its ability to open doors for more conversations surrounding mental health on campus.
“It’s really a sweet commentary about mental health and the stigma with mental health,” Fagan said. “We have really embedded in our [Theatre Arts] program here that mental health is health. It will be interesting for the audience to see how the guests in the sanatorium are so much kinder than the outside world which is really cutthroat.”
The department will be providing a variety of mental health resources to audience members including pamphlets, stickers and brochures to bring awareness to services available at Moorpark College. Audiences can also look forward to seeing two entirely different casts depending on the show date.
“The double casts are so different and have totally unique interpretations of the characters, it’s like a completely new show,” Fagan noted. “These actors have brought such quirks of their own to these characters.”
Tickets for “The Curious Savage” are $20 for adults and $15 for students and seniors. Tickets can be purchased online through the Moorpark College PAC Box Office to save 20%.
