Curtain to rise on Masquers production of ‘Harvey’ next week

SOAP LAKE — The tale of a nice but eccentric fellow, his boon companion — a 6-foot, 3-inch invisible pink rabbit — and his scheming relatives comes to Masquers Theater this February with the troupe’s production of “Harvey.” 

Director Pat Rosman said the 2023-24 season is one of many classic plays, and “Harvey,” which premiered in 1944 and ran more than four years on Broadway, is a theater staple.

Elwood P. Dowd (Dave Stearns in the Masquers production) is a very nice fellow who likes a drink or two — or more. And then there’s his friend Harvey, the invisible one, the tall pink rabbit. They go everywhere together. 

It’s all just too embarrassing for his sister Veta (Rosalee Chamberlain) and her daughter Myrtle Mae (Whitley Rushton). Besides, Myrtle Mae would like to get her hands on some of Elwood’s money. There has to be something they can do — of course, there is that sanitarium on the edge of town, run by Dr. Chumley (Bevan Olstad). That might be a good place to stash a family member with an invisible friend.

Rosman said the play brought back memories when he looked at the list of options for the season.

“I spotted ‘Harvey’ right off, because as a child, Dad would tell me storylines to plays as we drove,” he said. “So I knew ‘Harvey’ from his stories.”

It’s one of those plays that rewards people who listen closely, he said.

“I don’t want to get too deep into the psychology of the show, but there are a lot of psychiatric jokes. A lot of under-the-radar humor,” he said. “If you’re paying attention you’re going to get so much of it.”

The Masquers production, Rosman said, benefits from a strong cast.

“I’m really excited because I’ve got a wonderful cast of veterans and brand new, first-time-to-the-stage people,” he said. “I’ve got a really good balance and everybody’s having fun.”

Stearns said he’s both a veteran and a newbie.

“I haven’t done any theater in about 13, maybe 15 years,” he said. “And I used to do a lot of it. My wife and some friends persuaded me to try out for the show. I like the script for ‘Harvey.’ I’ve always liked the story.”

He did better than he expected when he auditioned.

“I did not expect to get the lead. I was actually trying to get (something like) Dr. Chumley’s part, something smaller. But the lead? ‘Yeah, okay, I’ll take it,’” Stearns said. “And Elwood seems to be very, very close to my own personality.”

Stearns is a veteran of theater in Wenatchee and was, he said, the technical director and stage manager at the Wenatchee Performing Arts Center. But coming back on stage after a long absence brought with it a steep learning curve.

“I’ve forgotten so much,” he said. “I’m really having to relearn a whole lot of stuff. But I’m getting it down. I feel really great with this cast.”

Cheryl Schweizer can be reached via email at cschweizer@columbiabasinherald.com.

If you go

“Harvey” at the Masquers Theater

322 E. Main Ave., Soap Lake

Show dates:

7:30 p.m. Feb. 9 and 10, 16 and 17, 23 and 24

2 p.m. Feb. 11, 18 and 25

Tickets: Masquers website, www.masquers.com

    Veta Simmons (Rosalee Chamberlain), foreground, recounts her horrible experience to her daughter Myrtle Mae (Whitley Rushton), center, and a shocked Judge Gaffney (Victoria Drake), right.
  

    Dr. Chumley (Bevan Olstad), foreground, and Wilson the orderly (Jason Noble) aren’t pleased to hear they could be the subject of a lawsuit.
  

    Elwood P. Dowd (Dave Stearns), left, gives some advice to a disapproving Dr. Sanderson (Greg Becker), right. The Masquers production of “Harvey” opens next week.
  

    Wilson (Jason Noble), right, makes time with Myrtle Mae (Whitley Rushton), left.
  

    Elwood P. Dowd (Dave Stearns) is very pleased with the portrait of him and his best friend. The Masquers production of “Harvey” opens next week
  

    Veta (Rosalee Chamberlain), left, seeks advice from Dr. Chumley (Bevan Olstad), right, in the Masquers production of “Harvey.”