High school to present production of Mary Chase’s Pullitzer Prize winning comedy Nov. 11 and 12
By Kellen Olshefski
SLN Staff
Things are set to get whacky in a little more than a week when cast and crew members of Elkhorn Area High School’s production of “Harvey,” bring Elwood P. Dowd and his 6 1/2-foot imaginary rabbit to life on stage.
Elkhorn Area High School’s fall play is slated for next weekend, Nov. 11 and 12, with performances beginning at 7 p.m. in the James A. Wehner Auditorium at Elkhorn Area High School, 482 E. Geneva St. Tickets cost $5 in advance, or $6 at the door, and can be purchased in advance through the Elkhorn Area High School front office or any cast and crew member.
While performances were originally slated for Nov. 5 and 6, Director Lisa Dettmann-Webb said she opted to move performances back a week, allowing for the community to cheer on the Elkhorn Area High School soccer team in this weekend’s state competition.
“This will give audiences the opportunity to cheer our boys on for state for soccer and support our drama department as well,” she said.
As for the cast and crew, Dettman-Webb said rehearsals have gone well, noting she has very well-rounded students from all grade levels who are extremely dedicated.
“They take the time to perfect their character and their lines,” she said.
Additionally, she noted they have nearly 25 students this year working on the set for the upcoming performances.
Dettmann-Webb said she has several returning students from previous productions and several newcomers as well this year.
“It’s kind of a nice composite of all classes represented here, freshmen, sophmores, juniors and seniors,” she said.
As for things the audience should look for, Dettmann-Webb said those in attendance should look to identify Elwood’s congenial character and his ability to make everybody feel at ease.
“Probably largely because of his relationship with an imaginary 6-foot rabbit,” she said.
Elkhorn Area High School’s production of “Harvey,” stars CJ Sperle as Elwood P. Dowd and Rebekah Trussler, playing Veta Louise Simmons, Dowd’s sister.
About ‘Harvey’
“Harvey,” a comedy by Mary Chase, centers around a man named Elwood P. Dowd who insists on including his friend Harvey in all of his sister’s social gatherings. Where things get funny however, is that Harvey is a 6 ½-foot tall imaginary rabbit.
According to Dettmann-Webb, after much anguish, Elwood’s sister, Veta, decides there’s no other choice than to have him committed to a sanitarium.
However, while sharing her story at the sanitarium, Veta that ayears of Elwood’s suggested hallucinations have actually caused her to see Harvey as well and she is mistakenly committed by doctors.
“It takes some sorting out before a decision is finally made regarding her release,” Dettman-Webb said.
Written by Chase during World War II, “Harvey” premiered on Broadway on Nov. 1, 1944 and closed a little more than four years later after 1,775 performances.
Chase received the Pullitzer Prize for Drama for “Harvey” in 1945.
Since then, the play has been adapted for film and television several times, the 1950 film starring James Stewart being possibly the most notable.
