Harvey comes to Visit
by Megan Mueller
OKWUeagle.com Staff Writer
Harvey is the comic story of a man named Elwood P. Dowd who has an imaginary, six-foot three-and-a-half-inch tall rabbit friend named Harvey.
Elwood’s sister Veta, ever obsessed with her place in society, tries to prevent her family from embarrassment by committing Elwood to a sanitarium.
Because of a series of misunderstandings and hide-and-seek with the invisible rabbit, many are puzzled by Elwood’s supposed companion.
Harvey first premiered in New York City on Broadway in 1944. Chase received the Pulitzer Prize for the play in 1945 under the category of drama.
In the Oklahoma Wesleyan University production, Dowd will be played by Josiah Cogan, a sophomore communications major from Broken Arrow. The character of Veta will be performed by Charissa Cogan a junior nursing major from Broken Arrow. Dr. Chumley will be played by Jason Carruthers, a senior history major from Wadsworth, Ohio.
Carruthers has acted in numerous plays while at OKWU and is excited about this new experience to perform in Harvey.
“Dr. Chumley has been a really cool experience for me because he’s very different from any character I’ve played before,” says Carruthers. “He projects confidence and yet seems to have some problems.”
Mrs. Chumley, will be played by Terrie Smith, senior psychology major from Washington. She enjoys the similarities she shares with her lively and social character.
“I love parties just as much as she does!” says Smith.
Although the plot deals with the idea of what it takes to commit someone to a sanitarium, the play is very witty.
“It’s a hilarious play and you really have to listen to hear what they’re actually talking about,” says the director, C.D. Jarmola.
This is Jarmola’s fifth play to direct at OKWU. She has also been in Cheaper by the Dozen, and was a stage mom in the Sound of Music. Jarmola has her Master’s degree in English and is a certified speech, drama and debate teacher.
Ask anyone on the cast and they will tell stories of the fun they have working on a play about a tall, invisible companion.
Mariah Klumb, junior communications major from Sioux Falls, S.D., is playing Myrtle Mae, the daughter of Veta.
“There are some obviously funny lines and some that you don’t quite catch right away, but when you do they’re even funnier,” says Klumb.
Jarmola decided on this production because she found many enjoyable moments in Harvey.
“I had been looking through prize winning [plays] and wanted a play with plenty of characters and minimal sets,” says Jarmola.
Jarmola decided to get creative with the sets for Harvey, considering she only has about 15 feet to work with, compared to a normal 60-foot set. One set will be used as the sanitarium, and reverse to be the study in Elwood’s house.
“Everything on the set will just flip around and be the props for the other set,” says Jarmola. “This will save space and make it easier.”
“I hope everybody comes to see this play – it’s hilarious! You won’t regret it,” says Carruthers.
Harvey was written by Mary Chase. Harvey will be showing Oct. 23 and 24 at 7pm, and Oct. 25 at 2pm in Lyon Hall in the Chapel Fine Arts Center on the OKWU campus.
To reserve tickets call 918-335-6801. General admission tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for students. Tickets for OKWU students are $3.
