"Harvey" to be performed in Perry

When "Harvey" is performed by the Perry Players, the play's namesake, a 6-foot-tall white rabbit, won't be on stage. That's because Harvey is the imaginary friend of Elwood P. Dowd, played by Stuart Appleton.

New to the stage is Bob Hubbard, who plays Judge Omar Gaffney.

"It follows our philosophy that everybody can be an actor," said director Bill Andrews.

Hubbard didn't come to auditions to try out, but to support his friend Jane Winston, who plays Mrs. Ethel Chauvenet.

"I was dragooned -- no, shenaniganned -- into trying out," Hubbard, 78, said with a laugh.

A former salesman, Hubbard retired to Perry 16 years ago.

He said the hardest part is remembering the words and reacting to another person. His fellow actors and actresses have been giving him pointers during rehearsals.

The play, which premiered in 1944 on Broadway, was made into a movie in 1950 starring James Stewart as Dowd.

While the play is more than 60 years old, audiences can relate to the characters.

"It's just so whimsical. As a child, you always have an invisible friend," said Andrews.

Harvey appears to Dowd - who is driving his sister, Veta Louise Simmons, played by Cathy Hutto, and his niece Myrtle Mae Simmons, played by Rachael Moneymaker, crazy.

Dowd insists on setting a place at the table for Harvey and introducing Harvey to guests even though no one else can see the giant rabbit. When the sister tries to commit Dowd to a sanitarium, confusion reigns.

Where: Perry Players Theatre, 909 Main St.

When: 7:30 p.m. April 15-16, 22-23 and 29-30; 2:30 p.m. April 17 and 24

Cost: $15 adults; $12 military, children and seniors age 60 and older; $10 groups of 10 or more.

Information: www.perryplayers.org, 478-987-5354.

This story was originally published April 13, 2016 at 12:00 AM with the headline ""Harvey" to be performed in Perry ."