Weeks and weeks of work came together last Wednesday, Thursday and Friday when the Empire High School Drama Department brought to the stage "The Curious Savage."
Students performed the warm-hearted comedy, penned by John Patrick, at the Vail Theatre of the Arts, 10701 E. Mary Ann Cleveland Way.
"Savage" is a comedy about the recently widowed Ethel P. Savage, whose husband left her $10 million, which she's converted to negotiable securities.
Ethel was played by senior Rofida Khairalla, 17, who has been acting since she was a freshman.
"She is extremely funny and she has a good sense of human perspective," Khairalla said of the main character.
"She believes in giving to others and she feels life is not just about money. She wants to give other people an opportunity to experience their dreams."
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In the play, Savage has three greedy stepchildren -Titus, a most unpopular senator; Lilly Belle, an oft-married celebrity heiress; and Samuel, a judge who has the distinction of having his decisions overturned with regularity.
Senior Jeanne Torres, 17, played socialite Lilly Belle.
"Usually I get roles that are the 'nice girl,' but now my character is rude and spoiled," Torres said, smiling.
"It was definitely fun to come to rehearsal and just pretend to be this whole different person."
It is Ethel Savage's hope to fund the dreams of average people, so she hides the money in plain sight from her stepchildren.
The stepchildren then have Savage committed to a sanatorium called The Cloisters. Among the residents is Hannibal, a statistician who was replaced by a calculator, played by junior Evan Cipra, 17.
"He cares about people," Cipra said of his character.
Hannibal, who believes himself to be a talented violin player (he's not) went to The Cloisters to get away from technology and the world, Cipra said.
Playing Hannibal "taught me to look at other people because you are not sure what they have experienced in life," Cipra said. "It taught me to appreciate what I have in life."
Drama teacher and director Richard Gremel liked the characters in "Savage" and the opportunity it gave his students to play them.
"It provides big characters and it allows the students to make bold choices," he said.
Catch 'Goldilocks' later this month
The Vail Theatre of the Arts, on the campus of Empire High School at 10701 E. Mary Ann Cleveland Way, is the site of various community events, including student performances.
• Next up: Live Theatre Workshop and the Empire High School Theatre Tech Program will present "Goldilocks and the Three Bears" at 6 p.m. Feb. 29.
• Tickets are $9 for adults and $6 for students. Go to http://vtota.vail.k12.az.us/2012/01/26/3254 for more information.
Contact A.E. Araiza at aaraiza@azstarnet.com or 954-4631.
