In “The Curious Savage,” it’s the evil stepchildren tormenting the stepmother, rather than the other way around.

Debuting Thursday at the Lawrence Community Theatre, the play is the tale of three adult stepchildren trying to get their hands on their stepmother’s fortune. The audience is taken into the story right as the siblings commit their mother to a mental institution because of her eccentricities.

The performance is being directed by Jeanne Chinn, who herself performed in a production of “Curious Savage” some years ago. Chinn said the show’s humor and lighthearted spirit convinced her to accept the director role.

“Be ready to laugh,” she said. “And be ready to be truly moved, to be truly touched.”

Chinn, who teaches theater and directs productions at Ottawa University, said this was one of the easiest shows she’s ever had to cast.

“It was done in 10 minutes,” she said. “Usually I go home and agonize over it. This one was easy.”

Among her cast is Medora Davidson as Mrs. Ethel Savage, the play’s central protagonist. Savage has decided to donate her fortune to “foolish causes” she wishes she had known more about in her youth.

At this point, her stepchildren decide the only way they can safeguard their inheritance is to put her into The Cloisters with several mentally unstable individuals. Among the patients are Hannibal (George Smith), who plays the guitar prolifically, yet terribly, and Mrs. Patty (Beverly Willis), who refuses to do anything but recite the list of things she hates and paint seascapes on canvas.

Jane Henry, who plays one of the stepchildren, Lily Bell, said working with Chinn, the director, was an honor.

“Jeanne brings things out of me as an actor I didn’t even know were there,” she said.

Almost the entire cast echoed Henry’s praise.

“I’ve lived here my entire life,” said Kendra Verhage, who plays Fairy May. “I wanted the opportunity to work with Jeanne because she directs from a teaching perspective.”