From Reading Community Players
Pictured above: Elwood P. Dowd (Alex Dorscheimer) pictured with his best friend, Harvey, an invisible six-foot white rabbit. Photo courtesy of Megan Martin
Reading Community Players will stage Mary Chase’s classic, award-winning drama Harvey, June 5-7, at the WCR Center for the Arts. This warm, whimsical comedy follows the gentle, eccentric Elwood and his unseen companion, a six-foot-tall rabbit who upends the expectations of a small town and reveals the surprising power of kindness and imagination.
Elwood P. Dowd is a genial, unflappable man whose best friend is Harvey, an invisible six-foot-tall rabbit. When Elwood’s sister, Veta, worries that his eccentricities are embarrassing, she tries to have him committed to a sanitarium. What follows is a nutty and comic unraveling of social pretenses as characters confront what it means to be “normal.”
According to cast member Nadine Poper, “Harvey stretches our definition of ‘normal.’ You will meet a guy whose best friend is an invisible six-foot rabbit, and somehow he’s the only normal one on stage!”
The play balances broad comedy with tender moments, ultimately asking audiences to consider compassion, acceptance, and the value of seeing the world with wonder.
Director Megan Martin clarified, “Our audience will walk away smiling, for sure, and, hopefully, with a deeper understanding of how and why we should accept those around us who see the world through a different lens.”
The local cast of 11 has run into challenges bringing this Pulitzer-winning script to life. “There are layers to these characters,” reported Allison Schiding. “Veta Louise in particular is so much more than she seems at first glance.”
Schiding continued, “I really hope I am doing justice to her internal conflicts and her struggle to do what’s right by all the people she cares about.”
Also in comedy, timing is not always everything. Dave Bitler shared, “To make a comedy come off as funny, you really need a sense of trust. I think the cast understands that and is working hard to help each other make this the best show we can.”
Harvey is ideal for audiences who enjoy classic American comedy, character-driven stories, and theater that blends laughter with heart. The show is family-friendly for children and teens.
Contact the Reading Community Players box office at rcptheatre@gmail.com for further information. Tickets are $20.00 for adults and $15.00 for students and seniors and can be purchased online at RCPstage.ludus.com. Flex passes for the 2026 season are also available with big savings. The WCR Center for the Arts is located at 140 N. 5th St., Reading. Free parking is available at 210 N. 5th St.
Reading Community Players is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to bringing quality theatre and arts education to communities. To learn more about the organization and its offerings, visit readingcommplayers.com. For questions, contact the RCP President at 610-507-3436 or email RCPtheatre@gmail.com.
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