There’s something subtly magical about stepping into The Arctic Playhouse, a venue that feels more like a living room shared by close friends rather than a theater. With oven-baked cookies, coffee or cocktail in hand, the audience settles in for Harvey, Mary Chase’s Pulitzer-winning play about a man and his giant invisible rabbit. Yes, you read that right. A little suspension of disbelief is required here. Directed with a light but deliberate touch by David Jepson, this production revives a classic, reaffirming why we humans need stories like this.
Chase wrote Harvey toward the end of World War II as a way of helping her community and country cope with loss. It’s centered around an amiable and downright charming protagonist who escapes— or embraces— reality through imagination, a touch of magic, and an acceptance of the miraculous. Harvey fed audiences hungry for some humor and hope in the throes of war.
“Harvey has always been a favorite of mine,” says Jepson. “It will always evoke across generations an era of stories of gentler sentiments. Harvey is wonderfully evocative of the 40s when a play with a sweet, simple message is summed up in Elwood’s line— ‘My mother always said, “Elwood, in this life you must be oh so smart or oh so pleasant. Well, for years I tried smart. I recommend pleasant.’” Elwood finds a way to get along with everybody. Civility! I think he may be on to something. For a few hours, let’s brush aside reality as we consider instead the possibility of a 6-foot tall white rabbit!”
Elwood P. Dowd, adroitly portrayed by Paul Nolette with gentle eccentricity and unwavering grace, insists on including his imaginary friend Harvey in all of his sister’s social gatherings. However, Veta, deftly played by Lynda DiStefano, decides to have Elwood committed to a sanitarium, never dreaming she, or anyone else, might succumb to this infectious hallucination.
Harvey has everyone questioning reality and their own sanity. The ensemble cast brings a sweet rhythm to the ridiculous blunders, with Veta’s revelation (No spoilers here!) providing both comedic tension and emotional depth. Things can feel a bit tedious at times, but the laughs circle back and catch you off guard. Everyone— especially the devoted yet frazzled Veta— delivers comedic timing that isn’t overplayed, and emotional beats that sneak up on you with surprising depth.
Lloyd Felix’s set design includes an easily moved wall that separates Veta’s house from the sanitarium. Kudos to Nancy Spirito for her period costume design. Everyone looks svelte, especially Elwood in his red plaid suit!
Elwood’s unwavering belief in his pooka (look it up!) friend feels gently rebellious. Harvey makes you ponder if maybe people who see things that others don’t aren’t crazy, they’re just ahead of the curve. It’s a meditation on kindness, imagination, choosing joy over conformity, and the quiet power of being unapologetically true to self.
Treat yourself to laughter, heart, and a touch of the surreal. The Arctic Playhouse isn’t afraid to embrace that imaginative vision. Who knows? You might just leave believing in Harvey too— not because you see him, but because you want to!
Harvey runs through September 14. For more information, visit https://thearcticplayhouse.com/.