Find ‘Harvey’ at The Kate July 19-22

OLD SAYBROOK — “Harvey’ has been entertaining audiences for almost three quarters of a century, and it is still as funny and as relevant today as it was when it first opened on Broadway in 1944.

Mary Chase's Pulitzer Prizewinning piece was then adapted for film in 1950 starring Jimmy Stewart and it was most recently revived in 2012 at the Roundabout Theatre in New York City to standing ovations.

The play centers around a lovable and mild-mannered man; Elwood P. Dowd and his imaginary friend, Harvey, a 61⁄ 2- foot rabbit. Trouble starts when Elwood begins to introduce his imaginary friend at a tea for the high-society ladies which his social climbing sister, Veda, has organized.

Knowing that she can no longer tolerate his eccentric behavior, Veta decides to have Elwood committed to a sanitarium to avoid any further embarrassment to their family in spite of the fact that they are living in Elwood's house and being supported by him.

The comedy unfolds as the doctors mistakenly assume Veda is the sick family member as she is so desperate to commit her brother she appears to be on the edge of lunacy. Once the truth comes out, the search is on for the missing Elwood, which brings the hilarious twists and turns.

The playwright, Mary Chase, was inspired to write “Harvey” to bring some laughter to families saddened by losing their loved ones in World War II. She knew that the grieving relatives would not find any comedy about sex or money or politics – but when she awoke one morning at five o’clock and saw a psychiatrist walking across her bedroom floor followed by an enormous white rabbit, she knew she had her answer.

Saybrook Stage Company returns to the Katharine Hepburn Cultural Arts Center from July 19-22 for its 16th production. The most recent plays include “How The Other Half Loves” this past January, as well as “Barefoot In The Park,” “The Farnsworth Invention,” “Noises Off” and “Deathtrap.”

For tickets, go to www.thekate.org or call 877-503-1286. Visit www.SaybrookStage.org for more information about the Saybrook Stage Company.

Contributed photo Saybrook Stage Company returns to the Katharine Hepburn Cultural Arts Center with its production of “Harvey” July 19-22. Above, the cast of “Harvey.”