HARVEY - Laurel Mill Playhouse Non Equity Auditions

THE STORY: When Elwood P. Dowd starts to introduce his imaginary friend, Harvey, a six-and-a-half-foot rabbit, to guests at a society party, his sister, Veta, has seen as much of his eccentric behavior as she can tolerate. She decides to have him committed to a sanitarium to spare her daughter, Myrtle Mae, and their family from future embarrassment. Problems arise, however, when Veta herself is mistakenly assumed to be on the verge of lunacy when she explains to doctors that years of living with Elwood's hallucination have caused her to see Harvey also! The doctors commit Veta instead of Elwood, but when the truth comes out, the search is on for Elwood and his invisible companion. When he shows up at the sanitarium looking for his lost friend Harvey, it seems that the mild-mannered Elwood's delusion has had a strange influence on more than one of the doctors. Only at the end does Veta realize that maybe Harvey isn't so bad after all.

Ethel Chauvenet

Mrs. Chauvenet is an old friend of the family. She is a member of the town’s social circle that

Veta desperately wants Myrtle to break into. May Double as Betty Chumley.

Betty Chumley

Dr. Chumley’s kind and talkative wife. Can be a scene stealer in the hands of the right actress. Same actress may double as Ms Chauvenet

Dr. William B. Chumley

Chumley is an esteemed psychiatrist and the head of Chumley’s Rest He is a difficult, exacting man who will go to any length to protect the reputation of his sanitarium, but his interaction with Elwood and Harvey will reveal an unexpected vulnerability.

Elwood P. Dowd

Elwood P. Dowd is the central character of the play, a charming eccentric who’s

best friend is Harvey, an invisible six-foot-tall rabbit. Elwood is well mannered, friendly and kind definitely old-School. Elwood is Veta’s older brother but the age difference needn’t be dramatic. The actor who plays Elwood will also need to create the Character of Harvey with a little help from Veta and Chumley.

Judge Omar Gaffney

The judge is an old family friend of the Dowds and, the family’s lawyer. The audience should sense a fondness for Veta that may indicate an unexpressed infatuation.

Ruth Kelly

Nurse Kelly is a sympathetic character, a pretty young woman who appears to have some sort of

love/hate relationship with Dr. Sanderson. We see both sides expressed throughout the show.

E. J. Lofgren

E.J. Lofgren is a cab driver who’s monologue about his sanitarium passengers is crucial to the climax of the play. He has a single scene near the very end and would have a very limited rehearsal schedule.

Dr. Lyman Sanderson

Dr. Sanderson is young and highly qualified psychiatrist, hand picked by Chumley. His talent is only surpassed by his vanity. He is as infatuated with Nurse Kelly as she is with him, though he struggles not to let on.

Myrtle Mae Simmons

Myrtle is Veta’s Daughter (Elwood’s Niece). Both Veta and Myrtle are about the business of

finding Myrtle a man to marry-a mission that is made impossible with Elwood and Harvey constantly popping in. Myrtle is extremely self-centered.

Veta Louise Simmons

Elwood’s younger sister, Veta has returned to the family home after the death of her mother and is intent on landing a suitable husband for her daughter Myrtle Mae. She is very concerned about fitting into society and all the social proprieties that that involves. She also loves her older brother Elwood very much. This is the dynamic that drives the action of the play.

Wilson

Wilson is the muscle of Chumley’s Rest, a devoted orderly responsible for handling the patients

who will not cooperate voluntarily. He sets his sites on Myrtle soon after meeting her.