Keeping theater alive in the community is a passion for Nancy McBride.
On Thursday and Friday, the production of “Harvey,” featuring local performers, will take the Backus Community Center stage. The play, written by Mary Chase, is slated to begin at 7:30 p.m. both nights.
“I think the community will like this play,” said the Littlefork-Big Falls High School English teacher, who is directing the production.
The story’s plot centers around Elwood P. Dowd played by Zach McClellan. McClellan portrays an open-minded man who claims to have an invisible friend Harvey — a six-foot, three-and-one-half-inch tall pooka, a mythical creature, resembling a white rabbit.
Elwood introduces Harvey to everyone he meets and his sister, Veta Louise Simmons, played by Nichole Rom, doesn’t want Harvey around and finds her brother’s behavior embarrassing. She decides to have him committed to a sanitarium to spare her daughter Myrtle Mae, played by Kari Imhof, and their family from future humiliation.
McBride said it is at the sanitarium that the play’s comedy comes out. The doctors commit Veta instead of Elwood, but soon the hunt is on for Elwood and his invisible companion. When Elwood shows up at the sanitarium looking for his lost friend Harvey, it seems that Elwood’s delusion has had a strange impact on the staff, including Dr. William Chumley, played by Tom Donahou, and his medical partner Dr. Lyman Sanderson, played by John Winkel.
Soon, it is decided by Veta to have her strange brother committed, but she realizes that she’d rather have Elwood the same as he’s always been — even if it means living with Harvey.
McBride said she chose “Harvey” because she views it as a classic comedy with a family-friendly performance.
“This is a play for the whole family,” McBride said. “It teaches people that it’s OK to be different.”
McBride said she is excited for opening night because of the enthusiasm from the play’s performers.
“They love theater,” she said of the cast. “They’re already asking me when we can start planning for the next production.”
Tickets are available at City Drug, the Backus office and at the door. The cost for “Harvey” is $10 for adults, $5 for students, and $25 for a family. Children ages 5 and under are free.
"Harvey" cast:
Kari Imhof — Myrtle Mae Simmons
Nichole Rom — Veta Louise Simmons
Karen Schickell — Ethel Chauvenet
Zach McClellan — Elwood P. Dowd
Jeff Everett — Duane Wilson
Kelly Millerbernd — Ruth Kelly
John Winkel — Lyman Sanderson
Tom Donahou — William Chumley
P.J. Donahou — Betty Chumley
Doug Skrief — Judge Omar Gaffney
Tyler Vork — E.J. Lofgren
