'Harvey' comes to ECC April 22-May 1
Elgin Community College Theatre's spring production of "Harvey" will be held Friday, April 22 through Sunday, May 1.
The production of Mary Chase's comedy classic about Elwood P. Dowd and his best friend Harvey, an invisible rabbit, is directed by Susan A. Robinson, ECC Theatre Instructor and Program Coordinator.
Performances will be at 7:30 p.m. Thursday to Saturday and 3 p.m. Sundays at the ECC Arts Center, Building H, 1700 Spartan Drive, Elgin.
Set in the 1940s, Harvey tells the story of mild-mannered, ever-pleasant Elwood P. Dowd, and his best friend Harvey, an imaginary 6½-foot rabbit. When Elwood starts introducing party guests to Harvey, his sister Veta decides she has had enough bunny business and tries to have Elwood committed. Veta's plan goes hilariously awry as Elwood's rabbit friend becomes less and less imaginary to an increasing number of people including Veta herself. Mary Chase's "Harvey" was awarded the 1945 Pulitzer Prize for Drama and was adapted into the 1950 classic film starring Jimmy Stewart.
"I chose to direct this play because of its sense of fun and magic and its heart. Who doesn't love a six and one half foot tall white rabbit that is invisible?" says director Susan Robinson. "Mary Chase originally wrote the play in response to a woman who had lost her son during World War II - she wanted to write a play that would finally allow the woman to laugh again. At the center of this play is love for family, and the importance of acceptance of your family members no matter who they are or who their friends happen to be. Harvey is definitely for the whole family, everyone will find something to enjoy about the show-from the Big Band music to exciting scene changes, and, best of all, the mischief and magic that Harvey stirs up whenever he is around."
Robinson says the cast - who hail from Algonquin, Elgin and St. Charles - have enjoyed exploring the 1940s setting of the play.
"The 1940s lifestyle is alien to most of them - rotary telephones and hydro tubs and fedoras, girdles and the Wednesday Forum. I think they are discovering that no matter the time period people fundamentally do not change; they have prejudices and fears and desires. And family is well … family."
Tickets for ECC Theatre's production of "Harvey" are $11 or $9 for students and seniors. Tickets for all performances at the ECC Arts Center are available online at tickets.elgin.edu or at the ECC Arts Center box office. Box office hours are noon to 7 p.m. Monday to Thursday, and noon to 5 p.m. Friday and Saturday. To purchase tickets by phone, call (847) 622-0300. All major credit cards are accepted.
"Harvey" is presented by special arrangement with Dramatists Play Service.