Country Gate Players will present the Pulitzer Prize winning comedy, “Harvey”, May 4 and 5, at 8:00 p.m. as well as, May 6, at 2:00 p.m. The show will be staged at the Country Gate Playhouse, 114 Greenwich Street, Belvidere, NJ. All seats are reserved and available online at www.countrygate.org
The play, written by Mary Chase, concerns Elwood P. Dowd (Hugh Halsey IV, of East Stroudsburg), a charming and kindly man who maintains an unwavering friendship with a 7 foot tall, invisible white rabbit named…Harvey!
When Elwood starts to introduce his friend to guests at a society party, his sister Veta (JoAnn Mazza, of Stroudsburg) can't take it anymore. She makes the decision, along with her daughter, Myrtle Mae (Danielle Martinez, of Belvidere) to have Elwood committed to a sanitarium.
But when the sanitarium staff, Nurse Ruth Kelly (Cailla Minerowicz, of Califon) and Dr. Lyman Sanderson (Daniel Eash, of Deleware Water Gap), mistakenly commit Veta for psychological treatment, Elwood and Harvey slip out of the hospital unbothered. This sets off a hilarious whirlwind of confusion and chaos, spearheaded by the director of the sanitarium, Dr. William Chumley (Dean Tshudy, of Belvidere)
Other cast members include SJ Pierce, of Fogelsville, as Mrs. Ethel Chauvenet, a wealthy socialite and dear old friend of Veta and Elwood’s family; Brian Mullaney of Nazareth, as Duane Wilson, the sanitarium’s street wise and savvy orderly; Thomas Metelski, of Asbury, as Judge Omar Gaffney, the gruff family lawyer with a soft spot for Elwood; Cindi Halkola, of Belvidere, as Betty Chumley, a sweet, if somewhat over-attentive, doctor’s wife, and Mike Belfy, of Lopatcong, as A.J. Lofgren, a taxi driver who has attained a world of wisdom from his years behind the wheel.
The play is under the direction of Bill Scurato, of Harmony Township. Further information may be obtained on the Country Gate Players website and Facebook Page.