‘The Curious Savage’ tests family ties

This month’s opening of “The Curious Savage” at Thibodaux Playhouse marks Randy Mayeux’s debut as a director.

A familiar face to local theatre-goers, Mayeux’s appeared as an Italian brother in the female version of the “Odd Couple,” a drunken lawyer in “Born Yesterday” and the clumsy son of an ambassador in “Don’t Drink the Water.” His most recent credit at the playhouse was as assistant director in “Greater Tuna.”

“Going into the director’s chair wasn’t tough because I’ve always had the urge to direct a play,” Mayeux said. “That urge has always been there.”

“The Curious Savage” is a comedy about a woman who’s left $10 million dollars by her late husband. When she invests the windfall into a memorial fund to help average people realize their dreams, her stepchildren find themselves left out of the deal. They put Mrs. Savage into a sanatorium called The Cloisters, hoping that she will “come to her senses,” cash out and pay them off.

“We get to meet all of the guests at this house,” Mayeux explained. “One has an imaginary scar he got in the war; another thinks himself a violin player even though he isn’t even close.”

Despite their peculiarities, it soon becomes clear that Edith Savage and her fellow houseguests are not the crazy ones – the stepchildren are, he said.

“They are really the ones that belong in the house,” Mayeux added. “Everyone should be able to relate to the children. I’m sure most families have at least one person that is like [Savage’s] kids. Someone who works hard to please another person until they don’t get their way; then they turn their back on him or her.”

Ultimately, the whereabouts of Mrs. Savage’s cash becomes too much for her stepchildren to bear – pun intended.

The cast of 11 stars Mary Ann Matherne as Mrs. Savage; Katie DeHart, Michael Hebert, Merlyn Foret, Jude LeCompte and Daisy Cheramie as the houseguests; Scott Phipps, Melanie Bird and Leslie Brunet Cheramie as the Savage family; and Adriene Naquin-Bolton and Tom Simons as the house staff.

Mary Bollinger and Bonn Bourgeois are the production’s producers, and Sherry Thibodaux stage manages.

“It’s been a tad crazy preparing for this show,” Mayeux said. “We’ve had one of the shortest rehearsal times allowed for a play because of Jubilee. There’s only been five weeks to direct and get the set built, but we’re ready. It’s a tribute to this cast and crew. Without them, I wouldn’t be able to do anything.”

Also noteworthy throughout Jubilee is Thibodaux Playhouse’s 50th anniversary celebration. In tribute to the theatre group’s rich history, Nicholls State has put together an exhibit at the Ellender Memorial Library that includes playbills and costumes from past productions.