Harvey
by Gaslight Baker Theatre
Nov. 15 - Nov. 16 (2019)
Elwood P. Dowd insists on including his friend Harvey in all of his sister Veta’s social gatherings. Trouble is, Harvey is an imaginary six-and-a-half-foot-tall rabbit. To avoid future embarrassment for her family—and especially for her daughter, Myrtle Mae—Veta decides to have Elwood committed to a sanitarium. At the sanitarium, a frantic Veta explains to the staff that her years of living with Elwood’s hallucination have caused her to see Harvey also, and so the doctors mistakenly commit her instead of her mild-mannered brother. The truth comes out, however; Veta is freed, and the search is on for Elwood, who eventually arrives at the sanitarium of his own volition, looking for Harvey. But it seems that Elwood and his invisible companion have had a strange influence on more than one of the doctors. Only at the end does Veta realize that maybe Harvey isn’t so bad after all.
Directed by Beth James
Come join us for the first production of our centennial anniversary celebration with this fun family comedy!
Harvey by Mary Chase
Setting
1940s
Auditions will consist of cold reads from the script. You are only required to go to one day of auditions, but may come to both.
Production dates:
January 31 through February 15
There will be NO REHEARSALS the week of Thanksgiving (November 25 through December 1) or Christmas (December 23 through January 1). For questions please contact Beth at bethannejames91 [AT] gmail.com
Characters
Myrtle Mae Simmons: The daughter of Veta Simmons, Myrtle Mae is in her early twenties and still unmarried, a source of concern to her mother.
Veta Simmons: Myrtle Mae's mother and Elwood's sister, Veta considered herself a member of the "better society" of their small town and is a member of the Wednesday Forum, a social club for the ladies of the town. She is, however, slightly embarrassed by her brother.
Elwood P. Dowd: Veta's brother, Elwood is forty-seven years old and owns the family home he lives in with Myrtle and Veta. He is pleasant, loveable, and a friend to everyone. He enjoys his visits to the neighborhood bar, but is by no means a drunk.
Mrs. Ethel Chauvenet: Sixty-five years old, Mrs. Chauvenet is wealthy and a member of the Wednesday Forum. She also has a marriageable grandson about Myrtle's age.
Ruth Kelly, R.N.: Twenty-four years old and pretty, Ruth is head nurse at Chumley's Rest, a sanitarium for mental patients.
Duane Wilson: About twenty-eight years old, large, and muscular, Duane is the sanitarium's attendant and strong arm. He admires Dr. Chumley, perhaps excessively.
Dr. Lyman Sanderson: A young doctor of psychiatry, Dr. Sanderson is quite attractive and has caught the Ruth's eye.
Dr. William R. Chumley: In his late fifties, Dr. Chumley is the head of Chumley's Rest. He is a confident, sometimes pompous, man.
All ages, sexes, and races are HIGHLY encouraged to audition.
