HomeMy WebLinkAboutHuron Expositor, 2016-06-15, Page 11Wednesday, June 15, 2016 • Huron Expositor 11
Keith Savage back for his 18th season at Huron Country Playhouse
Lynda Hillman-Rapley
Postmedia Network
When veteran actor Keith
Savage steps onto the Huron
Country Playhouse (HCPH)
stage you can hear whistles
and whoops of joy. And why
is that? For the past 18 years,
there has not been a season
where Savage has not graced
that stage in one or two
productions.
Savage is an incredible
physical comedian. He
has a special gift for mak-
ing hysterically funny pro-
ductions even funnier.
Savage is all gangly legs
and rubbery arms. The
desperate antics of the guy
are sheer physical genius.
His talents take the song
and dance actor to
insurmountable heights
and there is no question
why he is a long time
HCPH favourite.
Unnecessary Farce and
Anything Goes are two such
shows where you will see
this incredible actor this
summer.
From a youngster growing
up in Virginia, Savage has
acted or sang or both.
School, community theatre,
church- he has always loved
the stage, even to the point
of being the president of the
school drama club.
As a career, Savage
thought maybe he would
teach music. In a barter sys-
tem, where he would mow
the lawn, he took voice les-
sons in Minneapolis. His
teacher was John Bullock,
actor Sandra Bullock's dad.
25 years ago, in 1991 Sav-
age arrived in New York. He
landed a part in Showboat
and for four and a half
years that show became his
home. The production
finally got to a Washington
DC stage and his parents
were able to see their son
on stage and were able to
finally put to rest for the
family Baptist Church con-
gregation- exactly what that
Savage kid did for a living
and that he was not "carni-
val trash."
In 1999 he found himself
on the Huron Country
Playhouse.
"It was difficult telling my
parents I was doing theatre
in the middle of a corn field,
he laughed, saying today, 18
If you go:
Unnecessary Farce -June 15th to July 2nd.
Anything Goes- July 21 to August 6 will be
directed by Broadway's Michael Lichtefeld
Full Line-up check out http://www.entertainthis-
thought. co m/2015/09/24/hu ron-cou ntry-p lay-
house-whats-happening-in-summer-2016
years later, he loves coming
back to Grand Bend.
Ironically, the first play he
did here was Anything Goes,
with actress Susan Gilmour
(Mother Superior in Sister
Act). Gloria Day was interim
artistic director. 'He will do
that same production,
although a different part,
this summer.
Savage is the only actor
who has done 18 years in a
row on this stage.
"I am fortunate to be here.
I love this theatre,' he said.
Savage remembers the
pre -renovation days when
there was one washroom for
the actors, no air condition-
ing, a hot green room and in
the middle of a corn field to
boot"
Savage's inspiration came
from Dan Siretta, director,
performer, choreographer.
This man was the resident
choreographer for the Good
Speed Opera House and this
is where Savage got his
equity card.
As for the HCPH audience,
they can't get enough of this
actor. This season
As well as Anything Goes,
Savage is in Unnecessary
Farce, an arresting comedy
of errors that chronicles the
outrageous events that
unfold while two bumbling
cops are on a career -making
stakeout. Savage plays a
neurotic security guard and
well, let' s just say things
happen."
"I love doing farces," he
says, "They are hard to
rehearse- big monologues,
very physical. It takes a toll -
but it is great fun."
....
....
...
....
....
•••• ••• . .
offers smart -opinionated commentary, lively debates and influential round -table discussions. Join National Post columnist,
;