Everyone, get your tickets for the most “hoppening” event to hit the North Boroughs since their Easter festivities a few months back. The wonderful folks over at Community Theatre Players have a fantastic production from directors Katie Abramowich-Good and Libby Larsen about a misunderstood man and his hallucinatory hare companion. And no, it’s not a stage adaptation of Donnie Darko. It’s the celebrated classic, Harvey, now running at Community Presbyterian Church in Ben Avon.
Often overshadowed by its cinematic counterpart, due in large part to the man behind the voice that haunts the streets of Indiana, PA, Mary Chase’s Pulitzer Prize-winning drama is both hilarious and heartfelt; a poignant play about an unorthodox way mental illness can manifest in a person and a family.
Cast members do a terrific job of embodying their characters, particularly through humor. Christopher Franz dives headfirst into his role as Mr. Wilson by embracing comedic physicality. The other hospital personnel, Lyman Sanderson, M.D. (Alex Bowman); William R. Chumley, M.D. (Mark Spondike); and Ruth Kelly, R.N. (Kassaundra Rodriguez) have a funny and fantastic chemistry amongst themselves and with the other characters as well. Similarly, Judge Omar Gaffney (John Hayes), Myrtle Mae Simmons (Emma Kendrew), and Veta Louise Simmons (Ellen Kalik) are another group who bring plenty of laughs to the stage.
Matt Hartman delights as Elwood P. Dowd, the Benjamin Bunny to Harvey’s Peter Rabbit, but human. He’s a charming eccentric who isn’t afraid to attempt to show off his best friend, much to the chagrin of his relatives. Hartman is not only able to showcase his skill solo or alongside his castmates, but also “with Harvey,” an effortless and established connection that demonstrates his strengths as a performer. Keep a large ear or two perked up for when he imitates Harvey’s voice…
Technical elements are another highlight of this show. Jeff Cieslak masterfully handles lights and sound while an army of dedicated folks handle set construction and decoration. Speaking of sets, this one is relatively simple yet effective, and its interchanging pieces are brilliantly swapped out during scene changes to transport audiences to either the library or Chumley’s Rest. But perhaps the best display of technical prowess comes in the form of Harvey’s presence. Manipulating furniture, curtains, and the like is a phenomenal way of bringing the invisible animal to life.
The Community Presbyterian Church of Ben Avon is a marvelous venue. Not only is the theatre nice and cozy, but it’s just one room in a big, beautiful building. Nestled on the sleepy streets of Ben Avon, this is a quaint space to catch a performance.
Now in their 35th year/season as a company, Community Theatre Players continues to deliver quality productions to the Greater Pittsburgh Area, particularly the North Boroughs. Putting on larger shows in the fall, and producing smaller events in the months between them, CTP actively enriches the scene with dazzling dramas and captivating comedies. Unlike the titular lagomorph of their current show, they can be seen entertaining audiences throughout the year, and hopefully for many more to come.
-JS
“Harvey” continues its run Nov 1st & 2nd at Community Presbyterian Church of Ben Avon. For more information, click here.