This weekend will see local theatre troupe Ham Sandwich perform Harvey, an offbeat comedy of errors featuring an invisible rabbit, a happy-go-lucky bachelor and a sanitarium.
“It’s all pretty funny,” says Tom Heine, director of the play and a seasoned Ham Sandwich veteran. “I’m still laughing from some of the scenes at rehearsal.”
American playwright Mary Chase penned the Pulitzer-prize winning play in 1944. It has gained fame through a 1950 film adaptation starring James Stewart and a 2012 Broadway production starring Jim Parsons (aka Sheldon from The Big Bang Theory).
Harvey follows the story of an endearing gentleman, Elwood P. Dowd, whose family members are troubled by his choice of best friend: a six-foot-tall rabbit named Harvey who is visible only to Elwood.
Alain Lachapelle plays Elwood in the Flin Flon production, tackling the unique challenge of interacting with a character whom the audience cannot see.
“For Elwood, Harvey is a real person with a physical appearance,” Heine explains. “His
clothes have to be straightened, his shoulders dusted off to meet visitors… and Alain is terrific — he and Harvey share all these knowing glances.”
Heine says the 12-part cast includes several new faces, including Duke Rodnisky as the taxi driver and Emma Vincent as Elwood’s niece, Myrtle.
The cast and crew are dedicating the play to a beloved Ham Sandwich actor and volunteer, Jude McCombie, who passed away in August. A photo tribute to McCombie will be set up at the show.
Performances will take place Saturday night at 7:30 pm and Sunday at 2 pm. Tickets are available at Northern Rainbows End.
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