By Cloverleaf High School Journalism Staff
Ethel Savage returns to the friendly sanitarium, The Cloisters, to meet up with some of her old friends from the prequel, “The Curious Savage,” and try to save the day.
There are many twists and turns in this sequel, “The Savage Dilemma” by John Patrick, as the hilarious misadventures continue for everyone this time around in the classic comedy for mature audiences (suggested PG-13 rating).
The other characters, and the audience, too, will squirm a little when Florence, one of the guests at The Cloisters, feels it is time for her to teach her 5½-year-old imaginary son about the birds and the bees by reading him a book.
The Cloverleaf High School Drama Club will present “The Savage Dilemma” Nov. 1-4 at the Cloverleaf Elementary School stage. There will be seven total performances, beginning with a free dress rehearsal for senior citizens on Tuesday, Oct. 30 at 7 p.m. The regular cast (Cast A) will also perform the show on Nov. 1, 2, and 3 at 7 p.m.
The understudies (Cast B) will also perform their own dress rehearsal on Oct. 29 at 7 p.m., and two matinee shows on Nov. 3 and 4 at 3 p.m. Tickets will be sold at the door for all shows starting 45 minutes prior to each show time. Adult tickets are $8, and students and children are $6. Cloverleaf Elementary School is located at 8337 Friendsville Road.
“We were looking for a classic comedy, and this piece fit the challenge,” Fall Play Director John Carmigiano said. “The cast is made up of a mix of young and experienced actors, and their creativity has really been challenged for this production.”
For the second time at Cloverleaf, the understudies (Cast B) will have the opportunity to perform at their very own matinee shows. Carmigiano said it was very important to allow the young actors and actresses the opportunity to gain valuable stage experience as the CHS Drama Club ballooned to 70 students this fall.
“We have 22 cast members in the A and B cast, and approximately 25 more students in the different crews, so this has been most exciting to have the opportunity to work with so many kids and see the CHS Drama Club growing,” Carmigiano said. “There are some really creative minds working on our crews.”
The play is assistant-student-directed by freshman Arabella Polen, and the stage manager is freshman Arasaylie Byczek.
Seniors Lexi Hunter (Mrs. Ethel Savage), Corina Rivera (Fairy May), Julian Everstijn (Hannibal), Kyle Chudzinski (Aloysius), Kevin Chudzinski (Officer #1) and Grace Winrod (Christine) bring the years of experience to the cast.
“Our seniors have done some great things over the four years at CHS, and we are so happy to feature them in this show with some unique characters,” Carmigiano said. “They have all shown leadership, and it is a pleasure to work with them.”
The juniors include Dana Diehl (Mrs. Paddy), Josh Musolf (Dr. Emmett), Hannah Krzywkowski (Evangeline) and Baedan Smith (Officer #2). Sophomore Emily Winnicki (Florence) also stars in the show and rounds out the cast.
“We are fortunate to have some very good underclass talent,” Carmigiano said. “I am very impressed with their dedication and determination with their roles.”
Cast B is comprised of juniors Emilee Berchtold, Thomas Lormeau, and Trystan Turpin; sophomores Mason Cochran, Emily Pamer, and Alexandra Kisilewicz; and freshmen Cassie Beck, Byczek, Gavin Depew, Joe Donnelly, and Kaitlin Duke.
The set was co-designed by Carmigiano and community parent Eric Martin, who helped construct the stage once again.
“We used as much of the original set from “The Curious Savage” from five years ago as we could, and then decided to put a defining feature in for this show -- a picture window to see the actors through when they are out in the garden,” Carmigiano said. “Eric is great to work with, and much thanks our costume and prop ‘mom,’ Tammi Chudzinski, for the great idea.”
The eight-person stage crew for the show is led by seniors Nathan Humbel and Madeline Marshall.
“They did a nice job selecting the colors for the painting and updates to the set from five years ago,” said Carmigiano.
You won’t want to miss the zany and unpredictable show, “The Savage Dilemma,” coming the first week of November.