Starting in back from left are Tanor Joy, Eric Totheroh, Madisson Heinl, Emilie Judy, Cindy Nash, Jennifer Shepherd, Jay Rigdon, Justin Weaver, Aubrey McQuade, Tara Akers, Todd Lucas and Adria Jordan.

WARSAW — Individuals from different walks of life in the community have come together to put on a performance of ‘The Curious Savage’ with the Center Street Community Theatre at the Wagon Wheel the next two weekends.

This production is being directed by Melissa Jordan. While this is Jordan’s first time in the role as a director at the CSCT, she is no stranger to its productions or to the realm of directing. Jordan directed an independent production in Winona Lake and has landed roles in three CSCT productions ‘Almost Maine’, ‘M.A.S.H.’ and ‘Over the River and Through the Woods’. She also held a theatre minor in college.

Auditions for ‘The Curious Savage’ were held last November and rehearsals began in January. The community theatre provides a place for individuals to to use their creative abilities. The cast is comprised of several teachers, an attorney, a server and individuals with other careers.

Though the actors in production have different day jobs, none of them are strangers to acting says Jordan. All 11 cast members have acting experience and only two of them are new to CSCT.

Jordan stated she was excited to direct this particular production because she loves the idea of the contrast between the different characters in the play. She enjoys how the audience sees how the characters are able to bond and, “How they find family and each other.”

As Jordan is taking on a different role as director, she commented on the differences between portraying a character and directing the show. Jordan noted she has enjoyed having a vision for the show and seeing that vision come to fruition with the actors, the set and other elements of the play.

The ‘Curious Savage’ was first produced in 1950 and is a gentle satire and comedy. Jordan notes those who watch plays may be more familiar with this show as it well known. Mrs. Ethel Savage (Jennifer Mitchell Shepherd) has inherited $10 million from her late husband, but her (adult) step-kids, Titus (Eric Totheroh), Lily Belle (Tara Akers) and Samuel (Todd Lucas), commit her to The Cloisters, a sanitorium, staffed by Dr. Emett (Jay Rigdon) and Miss Willie (Aubrey McQuade) in an attempt to get their hands on the fortune which Savage has hidden. While at The Cloisters, Mrs. Savage meets the other residents, Fairy (Madisson Heinl), Florence (Emilie Judy), Hannibal (Justin Weaver), Mrs. Paddy (Cindy Nash) and Jeff (Tanor Joy), who each have issues of their own but their kindness, when contrasted against the Savage children, leaves those watching wondering who the sane ones really are.

‘The Curious Savage’ runs on weekends from Feb. 17 – 26, with Friday and Saturday performances at 7:30  p.m. and Sunday matinees at 2 p.m.