River Hill - Harvey

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Permalink Reply by Aubrey Dunn on November 16, 2010 at 3:13pm

This week, in River Hill High School’s production of Harvey, the combination of 1940’s charm, impeccably unique characters, and a little bit of imagination resulted in an unforgettably “bunny” comedy. The play, written by Mary Chase and first opened in 1944, was brought back to life by director Pam Land on River Hill’s stage from November 3 to November 7.
Harvey follows the hilarious antics that result from a sanitarium mix-up and the search for a six and a half foot rabbit who may or may not exist. Mrs. Veta Louise Simmons, played by Shashwati Das, lives with her snarky teenage daughter and older brother, Elwood P. Dowd, played by Jason Rodriguez. Veta and her daughter Myrtle Mae, performed by Ali Ward, may try to appear as if everything in their home is peachy, but they find their attempts thwarted when word gets out that Elwood has an imaginary best friend named Harvey, who happens to be a rabbit pookah. In order to protect Myrtle Mae from the damaging effects that Elwood’s imagination could have, Veta takes him to be checked into the local sanitarium. However, due to a doctor’s mix-up, she is checked in and Elwood is allowed to walk free. What ensues are three acts filled with comedy and innuendos as the characters try to discover who among them is crazy, who just acts it, and if “crazy” is really such a bad thing.
The show was united and made relatable through the dramatization of human insecurities. Veta and Myrtle Mae are obsessed with keeping up appearances; they don’t want people to find out about Harvey, in case it makes them look bad by association. Dr. Sanderson and Nurse Kelly lobby insults in an attempt to cover their insecurities about undeniable feelings for each other. In fact, the only person who does not suffer from self-doubt is the root of all chaos himself, Mr. Elwood Dowd. Harvey showed the distinction between what we want to see, and what our insecurities will hide from us.
The audience was captivated by Rodriguez’s hilarious, yet very touching, portrayal of Elwood. His mild-mannered, always polite tone, combined with his realistic interactions with the invisible Harvey, resulted in a very believable, very endearing character.
Beside Rodriguez, the show was anchored by the dramatic antics of Shashwati Das, as Mrs. Simmons, who had Mrs. Simmons crying and collapsing all over the stage, creating a character that was, “very much alive.” The ever-hilarious relationship between Zac Brightbill and Helen Ross, as Dr. Sanderson and Nurse Kelly, created a palpable sexual tension with their feuding conversations and underhanded insults.
While in some places the set seemed sparsely decorated, it was brought to life by its amazing, rotating design, which allowed the scenes to toggle between the Dowd home and the sterile sanitarium. Quintessential 40’s-era music brought a realistic element to the set, highlighting pieces such as “Fools Rush In” and concluding with “The Bunny Hop” at curtain call.
Harvey was a thought-provoking comedy that roused the question: is it better to be crazy and happy, or to be “normal”?

Permalink Reply by Jenna Antoniades on November 16, 2010 at 5:34pm

So, my best friend happens to be a 6-foot-tall white rabbit named Harvey. Is that a problem? According to the characters in River Hill High Schools production of Harvey, it is.
Harvey is a show about a man named Elwood P. Dowd, who has an invisible friend named Harvey. His sister and niece are extremely embarrassed by his faithfulness to his invisible companion, a 6-foot-tall white rabbit. The situation gets even messier when his sister, Veta Louise Simmons, decides the only way to deal with this problem is to have Elwood committed to a psych ward. Upon arrival to the institution, there is some confusion during the doctors’ evaluations of the patients, leaving everyone to question who among them is actually the crazy one.
The overall production was well-rehearsed and well put together. The actors played well off of each other, and the technological aspects of the show ran smoothly. This allowed for a seamless run that made the communication of the story much clearer.
Jason Rodriguez played the main character, Elwood P. Dowd. Rodriguez managed to carry himself in an upright, gentlemanly fashion that made Elwood very likeable. Elwood had a simple charm about him that was maintained throughout the entire show. The melody and sincerity in Rodriguez’s tone of voice fit Elwood’s personality perfectly, and his interactions with the invisible rabbit were so well coordinated that it seemed as though there really could have been an oversized rabbit on stage that the audience was unable to see.
Helen Ross and Zac Brightbill played two supporting characters, Miss Ruth Kelly and Dr. Lyman Sanderson. These two not only created specific physicality’s that livened their own characters, but they also interacted in such a way that they were able to reveal their characters relationship without ever stating it. Brightbill would wipe his hands on his coat whenever his character encountered Miss Kelly, and Ross had a specific way of leaning towards Dr. Sanderson that showed her characters interest. These small details created a tension between the two characters that made their interest in each other obvious to everyone except the characters themselves.
The ensemble worked well together and created little moments throughout the show that made the piece more dynamic. Whether they were guests at the tea party or patients at the psych ward, the ensemble added more life to the show, without taking away from the story itself. A nice touch was the beautiful live piano music (played by Ben Gulliford) and singing (Juliette Rose) during the tea party, which created a nice, light alternative to pre-recorded music.
The technical aspects of the show were also well put together. The stage crew worked quickly and efficiently, making all scene changes fast and smooth. The most impressive technical aspect of the show was the set. The set rotated so that one side was the living room of Elwood’s home, and the other side was the office area of the Psych Ward. In the living room, there was a set of French doors that was visible from the audience, and if one looked through the doors, part of the tea party could be seen in the background. In the Psych Ward offices, there was a glass walled hallway in which, during certain moments of the show, patients and doctors could be seen carrying out certain tasks.
River Hill’s production of “Harvey” was clear, high quality, and charmingly strange. This production left the audience with the idea that sometimes, in order to be truly happy in life you have to learn to see the 6-foot-tall rabbit standing in right front of you.

Permalink Reply by Alana Rusonis on November 16, 2010 at 7:24pm

If you have ever had an imaginary friend, then you will thoroughly enjoy River Hill’s comical production of Harvey. Although Elwood P. Dowd, played by Jason Rodriguez, is a man of 27 years whose best friend is an imaginary 6 foot tall rabbit, otherwise known as Harvey, the sentimentalism of this amusing straight play is touching and leaves you smiling.
Set in the 1940’s, the curtain is drawn to a modest living room in which a party is being hosted by Dowd’s sister, Veta Louise Simmons played by Shashwati Das, and Dowd’s niece, Myrtle Mae Simmons played by Ali Ward. As the plot develops, the audience begins to understand the unstable state Dowd is in and how deeply both Veta and Myrtle seem to be affected by it. The comical over-exaggeration played by Das and Ward in this scene adds to Rodriquez’s wonderful portrayal of a man very much in belief that his best friend is a giant rabbit. The play is soon brought to a mental institution where the audience is introduced to Dr. Sanderson, Zac Brightbill, and Miss Kelly, Helen Ross, who are humorously trying to hide their true feelings for each other. Their day is interrupted when Veta Simmons enters in a tragic state because she wants to admit her brother, Dowd, into the institution. The plot twists when Sanderson mistakes Simmons for the real patient and Dowd the rational man. Dr. Chumley, Ganesh Mysore, the leading psychiatrist at the institution, finds out what Sanderson has done and immediately orders Dowd to be brought in. The task is harder than appears and after a long search, Dowd is finally returned to the institution. When the doctors are about to administer a shot to make Dowd “normal”, Simmons realizes that she loves her brother just the way he is and she does not want him to change.
The play is light and energetic, and even though long at parts, the moral of the story is well portrayed. The audience, which at first rejects Ellwood Dowd and his odd behavior, comes to bond with the man, just as Veta Simmons and the rest of the characters do. Dowd is unique because of Harvey and without him; he is just another ordinary man. By the end of the play, no one wants to part with the Ellwood Dowd they have known and loved. The underlying moral proves that people should be loved for who they are and even though they may be different, they should not be forced to conform to the norms that are expected of them.
Main leads Das, Rodriguez, Brightbill, and Mysore do a fantastic job of keeping the audience intrigued. Das excellently acts the part of mother and sister who wants the best for her family. She puts a comical twist on her role and her experience in the mental institution makes the audience laugh. Rodriguez plays Ellwood Dowd so wonderfully that you truly believe that he sees a giant rabbit named Harvey. The awkwardness he brings to the role perfectly fits the play and his fantastic acting adds to the overall effect. Brightbill and Mysore’s feuding is amusing and easy, as if they have known each other for years. The irony that Mysore is so much shorter than Brightbill also adds to the comical theme. All the characters had extraordinary chemistry and they played their parts very well.
All the supporting characters did a wonderful job. The commotion in the background of scenes added, rather than detracted, to the complexities of the play. However, the cab driver role in the play, even though well acted, seemed like a little too much. The part really didn’t add much and by that part in the play, the length was getting long. The director could have considered cutting that part entirely.
The rotating set was amazingly constructed and gave the actors no problems when switching scenes. The colors chosen for the living room set on the walls, baby blue and a dark brown/green, did not seem to complement each other very well. However the sets were constructed well and all the props were utilized and nothing seemed out of place.
In addition to the set, there were several details through the play that added to the plot. Dowd picks up Sense and Sensibility at one point which is ironic because he obviously is the least sensible character. The songs that play subtly play in the background parallel the themes of the play. (Fools Rush In, Imagination, and the Bunny Hop for the curtain call.) At the end of the play, the doors are rigged to open and close as if Harvey was walking through them. This was perfectly timed and added to the fantasy world of the play.
Harvey is a touching play that makes you question the sanity of everyone. It is amusing and light and the actors at River Hill High School portrayed the main moral excellently as well as laughably. If your ever in need of a comic relief, look no farther than Harvey.

Permalink Reply by Christina Hernandez on November 16, 2010 at 8:26pm

For those who love imagination, wit, and comedy, Harvey by Mary Chase is a charming three act play presented at River Hill High School that will warm your hearts and take you back to your childhood.
Harvey is a three act straight play that was written in 1944 by Mary Chase. Elwood P. Dowd is a kind-hearted middle-aged man who appears to have an imaginary friend, Harvey. Harvey is described as a six-foot tall white rabbit. Elwood’s sister, Veta, finds Harvey embarrassing. Veta decides to commit Elwood to a sanitarium to maintain her and her daughter‘s, Myrtle Mae, reputation. When they arrive at the sanitarium the doctors commit Veta instead of Elwood. Once the mistake has been realized the doctors hurriedly search for Elwood. When Elwood shows up at the sanitarium looking for a lost Harvey, Veta realizes that she'd rather have a quirky Elwood even if it means having Harvey around.
The overall production of the show was marvelous. The 1940’s vibe throughout the show was presented well and drew the audience in.
Jason Rodriguez was exceptional in playing Elwood, the way he created Harvey on stage was remarkable. Rodriguez used body language to show strong connection with Harvey and portrayed him extremely life-like. Shashwati Das’s vocal choices were spot on, exemplifying character development throughout the show. She also used body language to portray her feelings in situations on stage, which engaged the audience.
Awkward moments of romantic tension between Zac Brightbill (as Sanderson) and Helen Ross (as Kelly) were exceptional, reaching out to the audience. Moments between these characters were sometimes elevated, making seem as if the audience had been watching a soap opera. Brightbill’s diction was wonderfully done and Ross’s facial expressions were excellent.
The set for Harvey was interesting and dynamic. It portrayed the living room of an American household in the 1940s then rotated to the secretarial section of the sanitarium. There were time period costumes as well as hat pieces for women. 1940s make-up could also been seen from the audience, such as red lipstick and finger nails. There was also a working piano on stage. Towards the end of the show, doors appeared to open by themselves to show Harvey coming on stage, it was un-expecting and professionally done.
Harvey is a production directed by Pamela Land, is a show that will make you smile until the very end.

Permalink Reply by Claire Fremuth on November 16, 2010 at 8:39pm

“Doctor- I’m going to tell you something I’ve never told someone…before. Sometimes, I see the big white rabbit myself!” says Veta Louise Simmons, played by Shashwati Das, who lives with her brother and niece. Jason Rodriguez, playing the brother, Elwood P. Dowd, has a friend named Harvey who he tells everything to, and does everything with. The entirety of the town finds a problem with this. The reason being? Harvey is an imaginary, 6ft. tall white rabbit.
Written by Mary Chase, Harvey is a comical story of a woman who tries to get her brother admitted to a mental hospital. Somewhere during the process of the interview when Veta tries to admit Elwood, Doctor Sanderson (here played by Zac Brightbill) mistakes Veta as the person who is to be admitted into the hospital! Soon, the staff of the mental hospital is out and about searching frantically for Elwood, who is supposed to be in the hospital. The story ends with a wonderful moral showing the world that family matters most.
River Hill successfully presents the ‘tail’ of Elwood and his fluffy friend beginning with an exquisite set designed down to the last detail. Veta and her niece, Myrtle Mae (Ali Ward), start off the story with discrete discussion held behind French doors. While the party guests are entertaining themselves with the musical talents of Juliette Rose (Mrs. Tewksbury) and Ben Guilliford (Piano Player), Das and Ward play off of each other’s brilliant energy and inflection to expose the audience to the trouble they must live with, as they are the ones living with Elwood.
Das continuously keeps up an energy that resonates through her voice that every now and then cracks, creating more depth to the character, particularly when Veta is troubled. She also exhibits amazing facials and fulfills the necessary ‘reacting’ that comes with the acting job. Das had a spark that kept the audience engaged throughout the performance.
Upon the first meeting of the lanky Rodriguez, the audience immediately “sees” the problem with the rabbit, when Elwood opens the door to allow Harvey to enter the room before him, and then hanging up BOTH of their coats. The wistful quality in Rodriguez’s voice conveys the honesty of the character and captures the hearts of the audience. He also perfectly captures the innocence of Elwood’s character by acting with endearing kindness and sincere motive. Truly, Rodriguez was a delightful shine on the stage, whether speaking or not!
The staff of the mental hospital displayed wonderful chemistry and tension within their scenes. Brightbill (Doctor Sanderson) and Helen Ross (Nurse Kelly) demonstrated very technical tension with their conversations of significant others. The strain showed most when Brightbill would raise his voice to the poor Ross, who became very timid. Ross and Brightbill always remained in character and retained marvelous facials! The supposedly intimidating Doctor Chumley, played by Ganesh Mysore, turned out to hold a great deal of the comic relief on the stage, repeatedly forcing the audience into stitches with effective body language and vocal variation.
The stage was magnificently set with props and accessories that made each part of it look like a place, and not just a stage. The rotating set piece was very impressive and useful when switching between the two scene areas.
One of the most capturing details of the set was when the doors on the set opened and closed without the hands of an actor. This simulated Harvey the rabbit, and was a very impressive detail.
The show went out with a bang on the Bunny Hop, bringing a smile to everyone’s face, as did the touching end when Veta learned that “…it’s our dreams that keep us going!”

Permalink Reply by Eric Meehan on November 16, 2010 at 10:42pm

Every child has had, at one point or another, an imaginary friend; but what happens when
a grown man’s imaginary friend starts to become an intrusive force on a family? River Hill tells
the story of the “imaginary” six-foot-tall, white rabbit Harvey and his human counterpart Elwood
P. Dowd (Jason Rodriguez) and what his loving sister (Shashwati Das) will do to get him proper
help.
The dynamic cast worked well together, fully developing each character in the
production. The ensemble helped to create a believable sanitarium as well as a forum tea with all
the housewives in attendance. The rotating set was used to its full potential in creating both an
apartment and a sanitarium waiting room.
Obviously crucial to this play’s success ws creating the illusion that there is, at least in
Elwood’s mind, a six-foot-tall, white rabbit in the room. All of the actors did a splendid job in
crafting, and maintaining, this imaginary character’s presence throughout. Elwood, the charming
protagonist of the story, wooed every girl in attendance while Das created a vulnerable, yet
strong, Veta who everyone could empathize with. The humorous flirting between Miss Ruth
Kelly (Helen Ross) and Dr. Sanderson (Zac Brightbill) served as a touching and upbeat side
story to the deceptively tragic main plot. Dr. Chumley (Ganesh Mysore) was the intimidating,
lead psychiatrist at Chumley’s Rest and his character showed that even the most powerful of
minds can be deceived by “child’s play.”
The ensemble of the play was a pleasant addition, particularly Miss Johnson and her
accompanist (Heather Anderson and Ben Gulliford, respectively) who served as the Forum Tea’s
entertainment. At points, the entertaining background activity upstaged the action happening on
the foreground but it ultimately added more depth to the story. There were many moments that
occurred that weren’t spoken, mainly between Mr. Wilson (Julian Berry) and Myrtle Simmons
(Ali Ward), that added a charming subplot to this dense show.
The set of the show served as a pleasant backdrop of the show and at times added
to the overall production. A moments that stands out in memory is that of when the doors
open maginally “by themselves” to signify the movement of Harvey across the stage. This
successfully tricked the audience into almost believing there was an invisible rabbit gracing them
with his presence. Another time when the set added to the story was the portrait of Elwood and
Harvey painted specifically for this show which delighted the crowd upon its reveal.
Harvey invites the audience to take an hour or two to indulge themselves in childish
fantasies and ponder over whether it is better to be socially accepted or have a true, honest best
friend.

Permalink Reply by Brady Richards on November 17, 2010 at 11:22pm

A charming uncle, an embarrassed sister, mistaken psychiatrists, and a six-foot tall rabbit come together to create the whimsical comedy of errors known as Harvey, by Mary Chase. Originally premiering on November 1, 1944 at the 48th Street Theatre on Broadway, the play ran for 1,775 performances before closing on January 15, 1949. Harvey eventually earned Chase the Pulitzer Prize for Drama in 1945. Now, River Hill High School takes a crack at this famous comedy.
The socially conscious Veta Louise Simmons and her daughter, Myrtle Mae Simmons are doing their best to be accepted in society and move up in the social ladder. However, the charismatic, polite Uncle Elwood P. Dowd continues to obstruct their dreams of popularity. His issue lies in his best friend, a six-foot, three-and-one-half-inch tall rabbit named Harvey. Elwood introduces Harvey to anyone he meets and is an endless embarrassment to his sister and niece. Veta finally decides enough is enough and plans to have Elwood committed to a sanitarium. Only, when she attempts to do so, she is taken in instead of Elwood. Once the doctors realize their error, chaos ensues in the search for Elwood and his friend Harvey.
Harvey was presented with an energetic vigor from the entire cast. All cast members remained dedicated to the quirky characters they were portraying and created a very real, very funny environment. Wonderful performances from the leads as well as the ensemble were the glue holding the show together. The actors kept the audience in stitches while enthralling them in their character’s back stories and personal conflicts.
Jason Rodriguez played Elwood with a charming aloofness that immediately made him a likeable and enjoyable character. Shashwati Das, the actor behind Veta Simmons, maintained an optimistic, if judgmental demeanor and an animated stage presence. The two psychiatrists, Dr. Lyman Sanderson and Dr. Chumley, played by Zac Brightbill and Ganesh Mysore, respectively, were equally entertaining to watch. Each had their own mannerisms and varied vocal tones that made their characters very interesting.
The ensemble cast was very arresting as well. Each walk-on or extra seemed to have a motive and purpose to be on stage and remained fully committed to his or her part while onstage. They party in Act 1 was an ensemble highlight, with Juliette Rose singing and Ben Gulliford playing piano in the background to set the mood of the scene. While the crosses did effectively bring depth and realism to many scenes, they came across as excessive at points, distracting the viewers from the scene going on.
The costumes worn by the characters seemed accurate and period appropriate, as were the set decorations. The set design itself was ingenious, being one rotating piece rather than different backdrops. The sound did cut out once or twice, but the actors did a marvelous job at keeping their composure and moving on with the scene regardless.
Overall, Harvey was an absolute success. Combining a bubbly cast with a realistic set and that riotous script, one cannot go wrong with River Hill’s Harvey.

Permalink Reply by Rachel Swearingen on November 18, 2010 at 10:56am

Although it may be considered psychotic to believe in mythical creatures, it is far worse for Elwood P. Dowd whom believes in an imaginary mythical creature in Mary Chase’s play Harvey performed by the students of Riverhill High School. Elwood P. Dowd has a best friend whose name is Harvey, an imaginary 6 foot tall púca in the form of a rabbit.
Upon the entrance of Elwood it is obvious to the viewer that he is in his own world accompanied by his imaginary best friend. As Elwood introduces him and Harvey to all of his sister’s, Veta Louise Simmons’, friends, Veta immediately realizes she has to institutionalize her beloved brother. However, as Veta goes to the hospital to check in Elwood, she is mistaken as patient, and Elwood is released. When Dr. Sanderson realizes his mistake, he is mortified and is taken on quite an adventure.
In general, the overall production was unquestionably a success. All of the characters reacted to each other in a natural way, and all had a beautiful respect for Elwood. There were no technical difficulties, nor were there any lapses in character. The audience felt like a member of the play and it was a joy to watch!
Jason Rodriguez, Elwood P. Dowd, did a fantastic job at portraying the crazy and quirky yet incredibly charismatic character. He acted accordingly to Harvey, which allowed the audience to feel Harvey’s imaginary presence. Although Elwood is clinically insane, Rodriguez brought a loveable charm to the character which was very refreshing. Shashwati Das, who played Veta Louise Simmons, was outrageously hilarious. Das did a fabulous job of realistically depicting a significantly older and kooky woman. The overly dramatic Simmons was very accurately displayed with Das’ amusing vocal tone and her extreme body language.
Zac Brightbill, Dr. Sanderson, was a very convincing doctor. His harsh temper and ruthless attitude was very convincing and still very humorous! Many of the mannerisms he did, holding the bridge of his nose during contempt times, were extremely natural for a doctor and really allowed to audience to understand the personality of Dr. Sanderson. Helen Ross, Miss Ruth Kelly, was a very fun character. Her innocence was an interesting dynamic to the production, along with her relationship with Dr. Sanderson. Dr. Chumley, was brilliantly played by Ganesh Mysore. Chumley, an already idiosyncratic character, was exemplified perfectly by Mysore’s eccentric interpretation.
The set of Riverhill’s Harvey was absolutely spectacular. On a single turn table was two sets, Veta Louise Simmons living room and the psychiatric hospital. Between scenes the platform would rotate, revealing the next set. The psychiatric hospital was especially outstanding. Within the set was a glass hallway in which the audience could see, adding yet another level to the production. Patients of the hospital would nonchalantly meander through the glass hallways, adding a bit of neutrality to the scenes.
The humorous antics of the show were elevated by the carefree spirits of the cast, adding considerable entertainment and liveliness to a long loved classic. The audience’s imagination was stimulated and Harvey was brought to life by the fantastic performances of the students of Riverhill.

Permalink Reply by Christina Green on November 18, 2010 at 5:10pm

Many people in their childhoods had imaginary friends, but how many people have imagined a best friend that just happens to be a six foot three and a half inch white rabbit? Most likely none, however, River Hill High School’s stellar drama department would beg to differ. Throw together a dose of straitjackets, a dollop of pin curls, two white rabbit ears, and plenty of imagination, and you’ve got River Hill’s November 3-7, 2010 production of Mary Chase’s Pulitzer Prize winning 1944 play Harvey.
The play takes place in the Dowd family home and the Chumley’s Rest Sanitarium, so named for its head doctor, Dr. Chumley, played by Ganesh Mysore. Elwood P. Dowd, played by Jason Rodriguez, is the embarrassment of his social-climbing sister Veta, played by Shashwati Das, and his niece Myrtle Mae, played by Ali Ward, because he is convinced that he sees and interacts with a giant white rabbit named Harvey, who has become his best friend. Unable to handle the humiliation that he brings upon the family, Das’s character tries to have her brother committed to the sanitarium, but ends up being mistakenly committed herself by Zac Brightbill, who plays Dr. Lyman Sanderson, and his on-again off-again love interest Nurse Kelly, played by Helen Ross. Upon realizing their mistake, their race to find Rodriguez’s character Elwood and put a stop to his cotton-tailed hallucinations once and for all proved to be hilarious and delightful.
The element that truly anchored the show was the sense of location that the actors provided for the audience members which really brought them in and made them feel like they were really at the party in scene one, or at a sanitarium, which was achieved by party-goers playing the piano and patients constantly crossing through a hallway in the set, respectively.
All of the leading actors and actresses in Harvey were fantastic and compelling, but the one who really shined was Rodriguez. His mannerisms and earnest style of speech made him extremely charming and lovable as Elwood, and his connection to Harvey was fascinating. Brightbill and Ross had excellent chemistry, and their dramatic romance was reminiscent of a soap opera, and was filled with wildly entertaining innuendo.
The ensemble cast consisted mainly of guests at the Dowd’s tea party, the patients and orderlies at Chumley’s Rest. The actors playing the patients at the sanitarium were hilarious as they were led, and often, practically dragged, through the halls of the sanitarium by the orderlies, and each patient had his/her own character and quirk, which added to the comedy of the scene but did not distract from the main activity taking place.
Set changes were very rapid, mainly because of the innovative rotating set that was easily turned by the stage crew and had the set of the Dowd family home on one side, and that of the sanitarium on the other. The pencil skirts, hats, dress suits, classic nurse and doctor outfits, and strait jackets that consisted of the costumes were very authentic and evocative of the 1940s period in which Harvey is set. Pam Land’s directorial choices were inspired, including her song choices of “Imagination,” “Fools Rush In,” and “Bunny Hop,” the special effect of the doors opening and closing on their own when Harvey was walking in or out of a room, and the constantly interesting stage picture created by variations in levels.
River Hill High School’s smash hit production of Harvey not only showed the value of imagination and individuality, but had the audience speculating that maybe Harvey was real after all.

Permalink Reply by Rachel Hanon on November 18, 2010 at 9:35pm

River Hill’s Harvey
by Rachel Hanon

Elwood P. Dowd tells Nurse Kelley, “Some people are blind. That is often brought to my attention.” Harvey manifests itself in a way that showcases that one idea: who is to say what is real and what is imagine when you feel it in your heart.
Elwood P. Dowd is an amiable man of forty or so who claims to have an invisible friend named Harvey, a six-foot tall rabbit. Elwood’s sister, Veta Louise, finds his constant talk of Harvey and his enthusiastic introductions of Harvey to everyone he meets to be upsetting. Veta only wants what is best for her social-climbing daughter, Myrtle Mae, who is in search of a husband. In an attempt to thwart Elwood’s intrusive, yet very polite, actions, she escorts him to the local sanitarium where everything is not as mentally-sound as it would seem. The story progresses as the audience meets an array of lively doctors and Nurse Kelly who misunderstand the problem at hand, and instead commit Veta Louise to the sanitarium. In the events that follow, the doctors converse with the overly pleasant Elwood, and find out that although he seems to be an ordinary town-drunk, he is in fact a man in need of help. The mishaps at the sanitarium lead to anger, frustration, and eventually an attempt at a lawsuit on Veta’s part, but she soon realizes that she loves Elwood the way he is, even if it means that Myrtle and herself must live with Harvey.
On a broad-spectrum view, the show was a great success. The lighting, the music, the aura of high-class ‘40s lifestyle- it was all wonderful. The actors were spot on, and the audience was kept entertained throughout. Although some may find a three-act to drag a bit, Harvey entertained the whole time.
The talented cast anchored the production. The portrayal of the modern, social-climbing mother-and-daughter pair was challenged by Jason Rodriguez’s Elwood. His lackadaisical attitude toward social norms and always charming attitude made the audience love him. Jason’s character choices fit Elwood to a tee, and his lanky appearance mirrored the description of Harvey, making it seem as if they could walk around together and seem proportional. Shashwati Das’ Veta was a wonderfully dramatized role. Veta’s character stole the show many times throughout the production. Overall, the leads propelled the show to success.
The ensemble brought the stage to life. Whether they were singing and drinking tea in the parlor at the Dowd residence, or deranged lunatics at the sanitarium, the ensemble received many laughs. The supporting characters, such as Helen Ross’ Nurse Kelly, had great moments on stage. There were times when they took the show to a new level and depth, painting the picture of life in the ‘40s for the audience.
The stage crew, lighting, and sound were stupendous. The microphones were never too loud or too soft, and the lights were perfect. The small adjustments they made depending on who was speaking and where they were shows how well they must have prepared. But the most important job the tech crew had was bringing Harvey to life. When the doors opened and shut on their own, the audience was astounded. The costumes reflected the era perfectly, the a-line dresses and petite hats decorated the women on stage and gave the entire show the vintage feel that it needed.
It was once said that, “If it's not real you can't hold it in your hand, you can't feel it with your heart, and I won't believe it. But if it's true you can see it with your eyes, even in the dark, and that’s where I want to be.” Harvey comes alive on stage.

Permalink Reply by Alex Harvey on November 21, 2010 at 10:14pm

Allow yourself to be taken away in this stunning tale of how fantasy makes its way into reality. River Hill High School’s production of “Harvey,” directed by Pamela Land, tells of how one man, and his invisible friend, can change everything.
“Harvey” is a story of a man, Elwood P. Dowd, who claims to have an invisible friend, who just happens to be a six-foot three-and-one-half-inch pooka resembling a humanlike rabbit. Of course, while everyone else, including his sister, Veta Louise Simmons, and her daughter, Myrtle Mae Simmons, believes Harvey to be an imaginary creature, a questioning picture begins to form through minds of the audience due to the actions of Dowd. However, since he seems to be a bit mentally unstable, his sister Veta decides to have him admitted into a sanitarium to protect her daughter and their family from future embarrassment.
The original play, directed by Antoinette Perry, the namesake of the Tony Awards, and starred by Frank Fay as Elwood P. Dowd, won the 1945 Pulitzer Prize for drama; River Hill’s production kept the prizewinning spirit alive with its superb acting from the lead characters. Jason Rodriguez, who played Elwood P. Dowd, captured the audience with his charming performance, never getting out of character, always selling every line as if it were the most important. Shashwati Das and Ali Ward, who played Veta Louise and Myrtle Mae Simmons, respectively, put on a spectacular show whilst preserving and bringing out their obvious repulsion towards Dowd. Zac Brightbill and Ganesh Mysore, who played the doctors of the sanitarium, Dr. Lyman Sanderson and Dr. Chumley, respectively, also skillfully characterized their roles. The whole lead cast in general put on an astounding presentation of how everyone can get a little crazy at some times in his or her life.
The ensemble and supporting characters did not drop the ball here either. Jeff Grimes, who played the role of Judge Gaffney, was exemplary in illustrating how even the small things matter. These commendable performances did not stop here. Even though they did not have a speaking part, the members of the ensemble did their best and more to bring about the best show possible! Their every movement told the whole story of what was going on onstage, and they did not need any lines to show that actions speak louder than words. Though their actions did indeed “speak louder than words” at some points, when their actions were slightly distracting to the eye, each move was deliberate and told a story, subsequently resulting in the awareness of the reality of everything that was going on onstage.
The moment you set eyes on River Hill’s stage you could not help but keep your eyes glued to the set. A show can only be mediocre with a really fantastic cast; however, in order for that show to be great, it would need a fantastic visual portion as well. Everything, from the spectacular design of the set, to the fashionable design of the time-appropriate costumes really made the show great. The set clearly laid out exactly where each scene was supposed to take place, whether it was in the Dowd Mansion, or the reception room at the sanitarium, and you could not help but feel as if you were actually there with them. The set transitions, where the set revolved to swiftly and fluently get from one setting to another, were remarkably well planned out. The play was set in the 1940s, and the costumes and set really brought out the specific time and place of the era, and gave the performance a new light that just great acting could never do.
In the beginning of “Harvey,” everyone but Elwood P. Dowd seemed to be completely and utterly focused on reality, denying even the slightest hint of anything imaginative. But as the play progresses, it slowly starts to become clear that fantasy might be real after all.

Permalink Reply by Carley Reinhard on November 29, 2010 at 2:52pm

What if the mad people are really sane? And those who are sane really mad?
River Hill High School’s production of Mary Chase’s Harvey captures the life and
thoughts of the insane, leaving the audience to ponder at their own sanity.
Harvey portrays the life of Elwood P. Dowd (Jason Rodriguez), a eccentric
et likable man who claims to have a friend, whom no one else can see, named
Harvey, a six foot, one and a quarter inch rabbit. His sister, Veta (Shashwati
Das)and her daughter, Myrtle Mae (Ali Ward) , attempting to rid themselves of
the burden that is Harvey who interferes with their social encounters, try to put
Elwood away in a sanitarium, but the question of who’s really sane and a mad
chase to catch and lock up those who are rushes into play.
To pull off convincing an audience of the unseen companion of Elwood, River
Hill would need the right actor to portray Elwood. They found just that in Jason
Rodriguez, whose ease in charm and quirk felt natural for the role of Elwood. He
had a way about him on stage that made the presence of Harvey, as he guided him
about the town and spoke with him, believable. Elwood’s sister, Veta, was played
by Shashwati Das. Das shows her comedic talent as an exaggeratedly hysterical
and ditzy character, Veta Louise Simmons.
Rodriquez and Das had a solid foundation to play off of with Zac Brightbill as
Dr. Sanderson, Ellwood’s psychiatrist, and his counterpart nurse Miss Ruth Kelly,
who share an off and on relationship of flirtatious battles and humor. Brightbill’s
know-it-all attitude as a psychiatrist is contrasted by Ganesh Mysore’s character
Dr. Chumley who is the head psychiatrist of the sanitarium. Though he initially
strives to lock Elwood up, he later doubts his insanity and questions his own. All
the actors, in tune in their character, set for a humorous, but casual environment in
the sanitarium.
In the sanitarium, it’s not only actors that bring charm and believability to
the storyline. Technical aspects contribute as well. A door which by technical
assistance can open and close apparently on its own as the unseen Harvey enters
and exits, rotating set that allows smooth transition from the sanitarium to the
home of Elwood and Veta, and microphone quality allowing each enunciated
word to reach the audiences’ ears.
As William James once said “The world we see that seems so insane is the
result of a belief system that is not working. To perceive the world differently,
we must be willing to change our belief system, let the past slip away, expand our
sense of now, and dissolve the fear in our minds.” So the question remains, for all
of those who have the pleasure to see River Hill’s quaint production of Harvey, do
you believe?

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