The Theatre Committee wishes to welcome the cast of the upcoming play Harvey which will run March 1-3 and 7-9, 2024. The production is directed by Gary Hall and is sponsored by Murphy Pitard Jewelers and All About Flowers and Gifts.
Harvey follows a day in the life of Elwood P. Dowd (Bill Meyer), a perfectly likeable and friendly fellow who happens to have an invisible friend named Harvey, a six-foot tall rabbit. This does not sit well with Elwood’s sister Veta Louise (Elva Melillo) who is trying desperately to introduce her daughter Myrtle Mae (Mary Claire Parker) to local society. When Elwood’s behavior disturbs Veta’s garden party, particularly guest Ethel Chauvenet (Nancy Rae Kinard), Veta determines to have her brother committed.
Under the guidance of family friend and Judge Omar Gaffney (Warren Brooks), Veta attempts to check Elwood into the local sanitorium Chumley’s Rest run by Dr. William Chumley (Charley Hawkins). Miscommunication and misdiagnosis between Dr. Lyman Sanderson (Matthew Power) and Nurse Ruth Kelly (Summer Shipp) leads to a hilarious comedy of errors and identities. Orderly Duane Wilson (Preston Huitt) and Betty Chumley (Kate Flynn) are pulled into the fray leading to a finale that is both hysterical and touching as the play encourages us to accept and appreciate the quirks that make us all special.
Director Gary Hall commented, “During auditions, we were blessed with a number of excellent actors and actresses and we, truthfully, probably could have cast it twice. I think that speaks to the fantastic talent we have in our community. The end of the play is about finding what is special about everyone, and each of these actors brought something special to the table making the casting a difficult task. In the end, I think we found the right combination. I am certainly happy to see some of our more seasoned actors back on stage. If you’re looking for an escape from the day-to-day routine and just want to put your feet back and relax, then this is the cast to take your cares away.”
Mary Chase wrote Harvey as a play to give audiences a chance to escape and laugh during the darker days of World War II. As her first commercial play, the piece became an instant hit on Broadway and won the Pulitzer Prize for Drama. The film adaptation of the play actually introduced the world to the talents of James (Jimmy) Stewart.
Harvey is presented by Dramatists Play Service. Box Office Link
