Charlotte Nölle (back) is part of the production crew for Coupeville High’s three-night run of The Curious Savage. (Photo by JohnsPhotos.net)
The cast and crew bask in a quiet moment as the countdown to opening night begins. (Photos courtesy Stefanie Ask)
A pivotal scene plays out.
It’s time to get savage.
The Coupeville High School Wolf Pac Theater Troupe returns to the stage next weekend with three performances of The Curious Savage, a comedy about the battle over a ten million dollar inheritance.
Written by Tony and Pulitzer winner John Patrick, the play “contrasts the kindness and loyalty of psychiatric patients with the avarice and vanity of ‘respectable’ public figures.”
“It’s a truly delightful and hilarious show,” said CHS theater adviser/play director Stefanie Ask. “The students have been working incredibly hard on it, and you’re going to be very proud!”
The curtain goes up at 7 PM in the school’s PAC on three successive nights, Apr. 19-21.
Tickets are $6 for adults and students without an ASB, $4 for children and free for CHS students who can produce their ASB card.
The Curious Savage, one of many plays written by the prolific Patrick, debuted in New York in 1950, with legendary actress Lillian Gish in the role of Ethel P. Savage, an elderly woman who husband left her a financial windfall after his death.
This is Ask’s first go-around as CHS troupe adviser, as she succeeded longtime drama mother hen Peg Tennant, who retired last year.
While she’s no longer overseeing the day-to-day activity, Tennant continues to have an impact on the troupe she nurtured for many years.
“She’s been an incredible help to me on the technical side of things,” Ask said.
Like her predecessor, the current adviser is hopeful the public realizes how much their financial support is appreciated, and necessary.
From paying for performance rights, set construction and purchase of props to the troupe’s annual trip to the State Thespian Theater Festival, public support keeps the dream alive.
“Our entire program is funded through ticket sales and donations,” Ask said. “The more ticket sales and donations we can earn through delighting our community with a performance, the higher quality production we can put on in the future!
“The theater accepts and embraces everyone interested, and it makes for quite a funny little theater family,” she added. “It’s important to mention, too, that the theater students are responsible for every facet of a production. They work collaboratively on one of the most authentic group endeavors there is.”
Bringing The Curious Savage to Coupeville’s stage offers a nice throw-back for Ask, as it was the first play she directed a decade ago at her first teaching job in Stevenson.
“It’s a funny, sweet, endearing little story that carries an important message. If you’ve never heard of it, you’re in for a treat,” she said. “It’s a story full of eccentric characters and some wild goose-chases.
“However, beyond the initial humor, it has some deeply meaningful moments, too,” Ask said. “It’s appropriate for all ages and a great little show!”
At a small school, almost every one involved in a play is double or triple booked, balancing the stage with sports, Science Olympiad and community volunteer work.
Working on The Curious Savage and other productions has opened up new opportunities for all involved.
Tamika Nastali, a junior who plays the “spunky, electricity-hating, seascape-painting, hostile but harmless, Mrs. Paddy,” has been involved in theater since third grade.
“I had always wanted to be an actress, so when the opportunity to be one showed up, I took it,” Nastali said. “This play, and just theater in general, has taught me trust.
“Every time you walk out onto the stage, you have to trust your fellow actors,” she added. “If there’s no trust, then there can’t be a show.”
On or off the stage, the cast and crew bond in a way that is unique, Nastali said.
“The theater troupe is more than just a group of thespians. More then just a group of friends acting together. It’s a family.”
For freshman Lily Zustiak, the chance to play Titania, a “spoiled, rude and unkind” senator, is a dream come true.
“I’ve been involved in theater my whole life, since my mom’s side of the family are all very theatrical,” she said. “I started acting for the experience, and I still do because I love it so much, but also for the amazing camaraderie of the troupe once you become a part of it.
“It’s fun to portray a character with such strong emotions and sarcastic nature,” Zustiak added. “Personally, I love this play. You will fall in love with so many characters and build a slight hatred for a few others. It will keep you guessing and make you laugh.”
Working behind the scenes, senior Dylan Hummel joined the costume crew, which offers him a chance to “help create something and present it in your own way to make other people happy and understand life as it is.”
A former actor during his middle school days, he’s enjoyed the chance to get back into the theater world.
“I think it’s fantastic working with the cast and crew and reading the script,” Hummel said. “The energy, the emotion and atmosphere is quite amazing to me.”
A relative newcomer, freshman Knight Arndt, who plays Fairy May, an “eccentric, pathological liar,” has always wanted to be involved in theater and finally was able to clear some space on her hectic schedule.
“I’m excited to finally put on this play,” she said. “My character is very childlike and interesting. She is incredibly fun to play, as I get to do all sorts of interesting and strange things during the show.”
Arndt hopes theater-goers enjoy The Curious Savage, while also appreciating the layers Patrick put into his story.
“I think though this play is very comical and fun to watch, it is also very sweet and heartfelt,” she said. “Though many of the characters are strange, many of them are also sweet and caring.
“The play does a good job of making people laugh, whilst making the audience notice the large subtext of it,” Arndt added. “It’s a locally-made student production full of months of work and practice behind it.
“The students and actors who worked on it hope that everyone can come and laugh, smile, and cry.”
The cast:
Miss Willie – Mckenzie Meyer
Dr. Emmett – Ricky Rebischke-Smith
Florence – Marenna Rebischke-Smith
Hannibal – Eric Wertz
Fairy May – Knight Arndt
Jeffrey – Jaschon Baumann
Mrs. Paddy – Tamika Nastali
Mrs. Savage – Madison Rixe
Titania – Lily Zustiak
Samantha – Helen Sinclair
Lily Belle – Chandell Schoonover
Production crew:
Assistant Director – Thora Iverson
Publicity/Fundraising – Charlotte Nölle
Props/Stage Management – Elaira Nicolle, Seth Hedges
Costume Crew – Megan Behan, Marissa Williams, Dylan Hummel
Set Design and Construction – Jacob Smith, Eli Kastner, Catherine Lhamon, Autumn Cernick
Lights/Sound – Tiger Johnson, Jakobi Baumann, Payton Gravley
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