After a rare weekend off for Easter following a sold out run of Murder on the Orient Express, Sutter Street Theatre brings another classic to the stage with its own production of Harvey the Invisible Rabbit. The classic tale opens tonight.
A Pulitzer Prize-winning comedy by Mary Chase about Elwood P. Dowd, an amiable but eccentric man whose best friend is an invisible, 6 ft 3+1⁄2 in-tall (1.92 m) white rabbit named Harvey.
As described by Elwood, Harvey is a pooka a benign but mischievous creature. Elwood spends most of his time taking Harvey around town, drinking at various bars and introducing Harvey to almost every person he meets, much to the puzzlement of strangers, though Elwood’s friends have accepted Harvey’s (supposed) existence.
His older sister Veta and his niece Myrtle Mae live with him in his large estate, but have become social outcasts along with Elwood due to his obsession with Harvey.
After Elwood ruins a party Veta and Myrtle Mae had arranged in secret, Veta finally tries to have him committed to a local sanatorium. In exasperation she admits to the attending psychiatrist, Dr. Lyman Sanderson, that she sees Harvey every once in a while herself.
Mistaking Veta as the real mental case, Sanderson has Elwood released and Veta locked up. Dr. Chumley, head of the sanatorium, discovers the mistake and realizes he must bring Elwood back, searching the town with orderly. Marvin Wilson. With Veta’s help, Chumley eventually tracks Elwood to his favorite bar, “Charlie’s”, and decides to confront him alone.
Four hours later, Marvin returns to the sanatorium, but learns from Sanderson and nurse Kelly that Chumley has not returned with Elwood. They arrive at Charlie’s and find Elwood alone; he explains that Chumley had wandered off with Harvey after several rounds of drinks, adding new twists and laughs to this classic. Many will remember the 1950’s movie version of the story that starred James Stewart.
The local production is directed by Janelle and Stephen Kauffman. The show opens on April 14 and runs through May 14. Fridays and Saturdays the curtain opens at 7:30 p.m. Sundays it opens at 4:30 p.m.
Sutter Street Theatre is located in the heart of Folsom’s Historic District at 717 Sutter Street. Reservations can be made at www.SutterStreetTheatre.com or by calling (916) 353-1001.