Because Nathan Bankert, one of the directors of the Pequea Valley High School (PVHS) production of "White Christmas" wanted to do a musical Christmas show, the school is producing a play this spring. Director Danielle Peifer has chosen to stage "The Curious Savage" - a play where the inmates of a sanitarium are kinder and more decent people than the supposedly sane folks who visit from the outside.

"The Curious Savage" by John Patrick will be staged at PVHS, 4033 E. Newport Road, Kinzers, on Thursday, March 6, at 7 p.m.; Friday, March 7, at 7 p.m.; and Saturday, March 8, at 2 and 7 p.m. Tickets may be purchased at http://pv-music-boosters.square.site/ or at the door 30 minutes prior to curtain time.

"The Curious Savage" wraps a mystery inside a comedy in telling the tale of Mrs. Ethel Savage, played by Kelsey Della Rova, and the three stepchildren she has raised from the time they were very young. The children - Titus, played by RJ Forsythe; Lily Belle, played by Kennedy Haley; and Samuel, played by Nathan Sensenig - are dismayed to learn that their stepmother has used the $10 million their father left her to set up a fund to help average people pursue their dreams. The children commit their stepmother to The Cloisters, a Massachusetts sanitarium, where she meets Hannibal, played by Landyn Waters; Fairy May, played by Liv Hofstetter; Jeff, played by Ethan Hackett; Mrs. Paddy, played by Naomi Brumbach; and Florence, played by Bella Biddle. Ethel befriends and cares for the other residents, along with Miss Willie, the nurse, played by Madeline Heverin, as her children attempt to find the money Ethel has hidden. Ethel's doctor, Dr. Emmett, is played by Josiah Fisher.

Peifer said that she had not read the script for the 75-year-old play until a few years ago. "I just laughed out loud," recalled Peifer. "It's so sweet, but it's so rich." Peifer noted that Ethel, as a wife and mother of that time period, gave up her own dreams because she loved her husband and stepchildren. "When he dies, she wants to do some of the silly frivolous things she always wanted to do, and that involves dyeing her hair and taking ballet lessons," noted Peifer. Peifer also pointed out that the writer of the play made it clear that the characters in the asylum are to be played "with warmth and dignity." Noting the contrast between the residents and the stepchildren, she stated that the play combats the stigma associated with mental health issues. "Each of the five residents has a trauma that has caused them to react in a certain way," explained Peifer, who noted that Fairy is a childlike pathological liar; Hannibal was a statistician, whose job became obsolete with the invention of the electronic calculator; Jeff's entire regiment was killed in the war, and he is dealing with survivor's guilt; Mrs. Paddy struggles with the aftermath of a controlling relationship; and Florence has lost a child.

Waters describes how his character was thrown by the loss of his job. "In my eggshell world, I'm still better than the calculator, but I am hiding from reality," he said.

On the other end of the spectrum is Forsythe's character, who is mortified that he may have to live a life where money does not bail him out from his bad behavior. "Titus bought himself into a job that he doesn't deserve at all," said Forsythe. "You see his anger build and build as he learns what happened to the money, which leads to a full blow-up."

Della Rova admitted that her character is a bit stubborn and likes to play tricks on others, but is at heart "driven by her love for her husband." "(As Ethel) I don't like my children, but I try to love them," she noted, adding that Ethel acts as a mother to the other guests at The Cloisters.

Also in a maternal role is Heverin as Miss Willie, who has a no-nonsense attitude developed during her former job as an Army nurse. "She is also tender and gentle with the guests, and she is motivated to protect them," said Heverin, who noted Willie is not a fan of Ethel's children and has a backstory of her own, which will not be revealed until the end of the play.

Peifer said that the small cast is developing a healthy camaraderie and having fun being creative and silly as they rehearse the piece. "The kids love it," said Peifer, noting that the show has aged well. "The character development is so rich for the students, and they are working to put a depth to the characters." She noted that although some of the vocabulary is unfamiliar to the student actors, she sees them learning and growing as they practice. "I think this generation is hungry to understand one another, and I believe this generation longs for meaningful relationship," she said. "They have embraced the learning and growth that come out of it."

Peifer added that she thinks audience members will relate to the points made by the show. "(The residents) have all dealt with trauma that we can relate to and connect with," she said. "(The stepchildren are) people who the world has deemed normal, but they are so greedy and vicious and unkind, because they are only after the money." The characters of Ethel and Miss Willie show audience members that there is a different way. "When we love one another and care for one another what a beautiful thing that is," said Peifer.