The Curious Savage

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The Curious Savage, written by John Patrick, is a comedic play about Ethel P. Savage, a woman whose husband recently died and left her approximately ten million dollars.

[edit] Plot

Ethel's three stepchildren, Titus, Lily Belle, and Samuel Savage, are shocked to find out that their mother plans to set up a memorial fund with the money to fund the ridiculous dreams of people. They arrange to have her put into a sanatorium where she meets several inmates,none of whom are completely insane, each having only one minor problem. She becomes friends with them and gains new insight into life during the play. Meanwhile, her children visit several times, flustered over the fact that she took all the money and hid it in a bundle of half-million dollar negotiable bonds. She deceives them and sends them on a wild goose chase, and they return only to meet up with the inmates and have the bonds stolen from right under their noses.

Primarily a comedy, the play sets up a contrast between the inmates and Mrs. Savage's stepchildren. By the end of the play, the viewer wonders who the crazy ones really are.