It is a show about small town communities, and kindness.
And an imaginary six foot rabbit.
Lisbon High School invites you to their presentation of “Harvey” Nov. 2-5 at Lisbon Auditorium.
The productions Nov. 2 through 4 are at 7 p.m., Nov. 5 is at 2 p.m. Tickets are $10 and available at the door.
Director Grant Freeman said that “Harvey” has been one of the James Stewart movies he has always been obsessed with growing up.
“I remember watching AMC and some of the classic films they would highlight and seeing scenes from films like “The Spirit of Saint Louis,” and wanting to see that movie,” Freeman said. “There are very few actors I’ve followed whole careers for, but Stewart was one of them. And while I didn’t care for some of them, “Harvey” has always been one of my favorites.”
One of the first shows he directed with Mount Vernon-Lisbon Community Theater was another James Stewart film, “You Can’t Take it With You.”
When the students at Lisbon determined they wanted to do a comedy, Freeman located four plays he’d be willing to direct that classified.
Freeman notes the play is a comedy of manners, which has meant teaching students the difference in the style of comedy.
“In a lot of comedies, the things start small and balloon bigger,” Freeman said. “In a comedy of manners, it’s the little things that become huge, the small slights someone might encounter in everyday life are the huge stakes.”
Senior Faith Miller, who plays Veta, Elwood’s sister, is surprised that this show has not been more popular on stage, and one she had never heard about before Freeman offered it as one of the choices last year.
Miller notes this is one of the most sizable roles she has had on stage.
“It is fun to play Veta, because she can be so over the top and dramatic,” Miller said.
The double-edged sword, however, is that Veta is a character who has long paragraphs of dialogue about everything happening in her life.
The role has also helped her to understand more about choices characters make and committing to those choices every performance.
Rachel Bartels plays the nurse, Ruth Kelly, in the production.
“I really enjoy the opportunity I have to rehearse with other members of the cast,” Bartels said, “especially the younger cast members.”
Bartels said she has definitely learned more on how to connect with a character and see things through a character’s eyes while on stage.
As for challenges, she noted she has to play the love interest of one of her best friends in the show.
“It’s a really great show and we have worked extremely hard on it,” Bartels said. “It’s really funny, too.”
“Every line is a different joke and it has a whole lot of humorous elements,” Miller said.
“It’s really a play about someone choosing to make the switch from being smart to being pleasant, to choosing kindness,” Freeman said. “That’s something we could all use more of in the world.
Freeman said if the Lisbon Lions advance to a playoff football game in early November, the show on that day will be canceled.
“I’ve just planned that we should be prepared for four shows from the beginning, and if we have a team in the playoff, we’ll adjust,” Freeman said. “With our students involved in multiple activities, several of the cast are part of the band and would likely want to attend that game instead.”
Gracie Cummings, Holley Dighton, Ben Jubeck, Ava Cossolotto, Faith Miller and Sophia Roberts act in a scene from Harvey. The show is scheduled to run Nov. 2 through Nov. 5 at Lisbon Auditorium.