Conejo Players Theatre AUDITION NOTICE:
Harvey
A Comedy by Mark Chase
Director: Marl Suarez
Producers: Beth Eslick and Elisabeth Kirkpatrick
Audition Dates: November 7-9 at 7pm
Audition Location: Conejo Players Theatre, 351 S. Moorpark Road, Thousand Oaks, CA 91361
Audition Requirements: There will only be readings from the script. Sides will be provided at
www.conejoplayers.org/harvey-auditions. Non-union, NO PAY. You will be required to show your proof of COVID-19 vaccination if you are cast. The rehearsals are generally weekday evenings (Mondays – Wednesdays) beginning at 7:30 pm. Please be prepared to provide any conflicts you may have from November 15 – January 10. No conflicts will be accepted after January 10, or during any performance dates.
Performance Dates: January 21 – February 12, 2022, Fridays, and Saturdays at 8:00pm / Sundays at 2:00pm. Thursday January 27 at 8:00pm. Saturday February 5 & 12 at 2:00pm.
For more information: Please call Beth Eslick, Producer, at 805-377-3303.
Plot Summary: Elwood P. Dowd is an affable man who claims to have an unseen (and presumably imaginary) friend Harvey — whom Elwood describes as a six-foot, three-and-one-half-inch tall pooka resembling an anthropomorphic rabbit. Elwood introduces Harvey to everyone he meets. His social-climbing sister, Veta, increasingly finds his eccentric behavior embarrassing. She decides to have him committed to a sanitarium. When they arrive at the sanitarium, a comedy of errors ensues. The young Dr. Sanderson mistakenly commits Veta instead of Elwood, but when the truth comes out, the search is on for Elwood and his invisible companion.
Character Breakdown:
Elwood P. Dowd - 40-55. Everybody’s pal. Kind, gentle, sweet, charming, charismatic. Equally at home in a sawdust on the floor tavern, a sewing circle, or a 4-year old’s birthday party. Beloved though he is, there is something haunted and ethereal about him, which strangely only serves to make him more likable. Lonely. Drinks too much. His best friend and platonic life partner is a six-and-a-half-foot tall rabbit only he can see.
Veta Louise Simmons – 45-60. A proper and well-respected, old money society matron. Constantly embarrassed by her brother Elwood and his best buddy, the invisible rabbit Harvey, who she also sees sometimes but also no, she does not, because good society ladies don’t see giant invisible rabbits.
Dr. William B. Chumley - 60-80. Has seen a lot of mental illness in his many years of selfless toil and has plenty of money to show for it. Crusty, but likes to think of himself as intellectually nimble. Respected by his peers, revered by his patients, celebrated by his community.
Dr. Lyman Sanderson - 30-45. Young. Arrogant. Handsome. Career-focused. Wants to be Dr. Chumley someday but does not have Dr. Chumley’s humanity. Spends a lot of time hitting on nurses, especially Nurse Kelly, with whom he has love/hate relationship (chemistry with that actress is important).
Nurse Ruth Kelly - 25-30. Brighter than she comes across, but society has taught her that her only value lies in marrying a doctor and giving him children, so that’s mostly what she’s interested in
Duane Wilson - 30-50. An orderly at the mental hospital who should probably be a patient himself. Mean, craven, a bit of a sadist. It is implied that he may take liberties with female patients. Probably quite powerless in his life outside the hospital. Sees the patients as less than human.
Myrtle Mae Simmons - 18-21. Veta’s daughter. Unmarried. Veta probably cannot WAIT to be rid of her. Spoiled and bitter. Cries and yells when she doesn’t get her way. Veruca Salt would find her over the top.
EJ Lofgren - 50-70. Can be played by a man or a woman. In their own eyes, the last honest human being. Been driving a cab so long they’ve got pedals instead of shoes. Has seen everything and knows people inside and out.
Judge Omar Gaffney - 60-80. What Dr. Chumley is to psychiatric medicine, Judge Gaffney is to the law. Respected, civilized, wealthy, powerful. Knows he’s always right.
Betty Chumley - 60-80. Dr. Chumley’s wife. Good-hearted, spirited, if a bit vacant. Perhaps a little annoyed at her husband’s constant need to work.
Ethel Chauvenet - 60-80. An older woman of the Dowd-Simmons’s social class. Nice enough but has a limited imagination. Has a grandson of marriageable age, which makes her of great interest to Veta and Myrtle.
Mrs. Johnson/Mr. Johnson - the maid/butler. They’ve seen enough to know they’ve seen too much.
NOTE: All rehearsals and performances will be in person at the theatre in Thousand Oaks, CA. We are expected to meet within the safety guidelines established by the State of California and the County of Ventura. This show calls for the performers to be in brief but close contact with each other. Please take this into consideration before auditioning. If you are cast, you will be required to be fully vaccinated.
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