Concordia Theater Department to Perform Comedy ‘Harvey’

Elwood P. Dowd, played by David Schrampfer, gazes at a portrait of himself and Harvey. Photo by Laura Von Kampen.

By Autumn Johnson

Concordia’s theater department will put on the comedy “Harvey” at Olde Glory Theater this weekend. Performances are March 22 at 7 p.m. and March 23 and 24 at 2 p.m.

“Harvey” is the story of Elwood P. Dowd, played by senior David Schrampfer, and his best friend Harvey, who happens to be a seven-foot-tall invisible rabbit. Elwood’s sister Veta Louise, played by freshman Haleigh Fitzsimmons, and her daughter, Myrtle Mae, played by sophomore Hannah Watt try to commit Elwood to a sanitarium. Hijinks ensue, and Veta is committed to the sanitarium by mistake.

Several cast and crew members shared their favorite parts of working on “Harvey.”

Freshman Rosie Grothaus, stage manager for “Harvey,” said she enjoys implementing other people’s gifts on the production side of theater.

“(Harvey) has a great premise that I’m excited to be able to show other people,” Grothaus said. “It’s really well-written, and the cast is just doing a really amazing job with it. It’s such a pleasure to get to work with them.”

Watt said she has enjoyed working on the production from an acting perspective.

“I think it’s super funny and it’s a timeless comedy,” Watt said. “I love it. It’s so much fun.”

Freshman Ruth Moon plays the doctor’s wife, Betty Chumley, and the maid, Miss Johnson.

“(There are) lots of little quippy conversations that are just really funny. It’s just really fun to be a part of a comedy,” Moon said.

To find out what happens to Elwood and Harvey, tickets can be purchased at the Concordia Bookstore or the Olde Glory Theater’s website.

“It’s definitely worth seeing,” Grothaus said. “The cast has done a really great job, and it’s going to be very funny.”