Winchester High School Drama Club, Curtain and Cue, will present "Harvey," the Pulitzer Prize winning classic comedy by Mary Chase at the Winchester High School Auditorium in two remaining performances. Friday, Dec. 13 at 7pm, and again on Sunday, Dec 15, at 2pm*
The play tells the story of Elwood P. Dowd, an affable man who claims to have an unseen (and presumably imaginary) friend Harvey, who is described as a six-foot tall rabbit. Elwood introduces Harvey to everyone he meets, much to the dismay of his social-climbing sister, Veta, who increasingly finds his eccentric behavior distressing, and decides to have him committed to a sanitarium to spare herself and her daughter Myrtle Mae from mbarrassment and possible social scandal. A comedy of errors, mixups, and mayhem ensues as they attempt to place Elwood in psychiatric care.
A role made famous on stage and screen by the great Jimmie Stewart, Elwood is played superbly in this presentation by Jacoby Horne. Maddy McNeal is hysterical as Elwood's perpetually befuddled and beleaguered sister, Veta Louise Simmons (a role for which Josephine Hull deservedly won the Oscar for Best Supporting Actress in the 1950
film version).
The production includes 'Grade A' portrayals of Elwood's friends, family, and
'Sanitarium staff' by the ensemble cast, which includes:
Meghan Cronin, who's hysteria (as Elwood's niece Mary) is perpetually funny throughout the show. Clayton Gilmour (Dr Sanderson) and Francesca Panzara (Sanitarium Nurse Ruth Kelly) are wonderful in their rendition of the sanitarium staff members who initiate the mayhem through their confusion admitting the 'patient,' humorously trying to right the mistake, while amusingly "almosting" their romantic interests.
TJ Boudreau (Dr Chumley) and Ethan McGhee (Judge Gaffney) keep the comedy rolling as they banter while falling deeper down the rabbit hole as the story progresses-- and Mike Ragone (Wilson) nearly steals the show in his comic rendition of the sanitarium worker and devout servant of Dr Chumley.
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The production is rounded out through wonderful performances by the rest of the ensemble cast, which includes:
Allison Cole as Betty Chumley
Veronika Ward as Jacqueline
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Savion Jackson as Robert
Ej Lofgren as Tobi Aran
Laura Dunleavy as Susan
Liv Biel as Ethel Chauvenet
Becca Smith as Anne Buckingham
Meghan Cronin as Mary
Jackie Collet as Bridget
The WHS Drama Club production was superbly staged and directed by student Directors Christina O'Neil, Samantha Mullin, and Catya Kurban.
The sets were expertly developed by Set Designer Tyler Antonevich, and
wonderfully constructed by the Set Crew and Painters, and the production's Tech Crew does a great job in their professional quality presentation of lighting and sound for the show.
Winchester Community Television (WinCam) will be on hand during Friday night's performance to record the production for video.
Student advisors, Mr Van Dinter, Mr. Mackenzie, and the WHS Administration and Staff are to be commended for their work in fostering the opportunity for these dedicated WHS students to present their talents in this 'not-to-be-missed' production of the comedy classic.
As the weather may hamper Sunday's performance, enjoy the warmth of humor and attend Friday night's performance. You'd be as 'crazy as Elwood P Dowd' to miss this!
Tickets: $7 at the door
(*Sunday's performance will be presented 'weather permitting')
