Local Legends #8
Venue : Playcrafters Barn Theatre
City : Moline, IL
Play : Harvey
Cast (as listed in the playbill) : Skip Greer (Elwood P. Dowd), Chris Hicks (Veta Simmons), Kassidy Holdridge (Rugh Kelly, R.N.), Zach Zelnio (Lyman Sanderson, M.D.), Kady Derbyshire (Myrtle Mae Simmons), Don Faust (William R. Chumley, M.D.), Kendall Burnett (Judge Omar Gaffney), Dave Moreland (Duane Wilson), Yvonne Siddique (Producer / Betty Chumley / Mrs. Ethel Chauvenet), Harvey (Himself), Thayne Lamb (AD / Stage Manager), Jake Ladd, (Director)
That’s right, a play! On a stage with lights and spoken dialogue and everything! Now I’m certainly no real critic so if you’re expecting some Benjamin Brantley here, I apologize, but this was such an awesome experience I had to tell you about it.
For starters, the venue itself is a charming and historical building hidden in an unassuming neighborhood in western Illinois. They officially opened their doors in 1929 and I’m told it is the oldest surviving theatre in the mid-west which provides a uniquely authentic experience, even with structural upgrades and modern lighting and sound. The stage itself is surrounded on 3 sides by seating which makes the production feel so intimate as if you’re in the scene with these characters. The lighting and sound is fantastic given you’re in a “barn from 1929” and the special effects evoke genuine reaction (I still don’t know how they made that chair move on its own). The image for this post is the stage so check it out if you want to see what I mean.
The play itself is a really funny story about a man and his invisible best friend who happens to be a giant rabbit…er, púca (sorry Elwood!) and the reactions of those around them. The director notes, “This year marks the 80th anniversary of Harvey’s debut on Broadway. In 1945 Harvey won the Pulitzer Prize for drama and quickly became one of America’s best loved comedies.” I’m not here to spoil a great play but there’s obviously more than meets the eye as this scenario plays out much as you would expect. In fact, imagine a fully grown adult family member you love and respect starts introducing a large invisible friend to everyone they meet. Then ask yourself…was that dictionary open or closed earlier? If you’ve done both then that feeling is on target for this show. Catch it anywhere you can find it, it’s a blast.
Now, a historic script and an even more historic building can’t make magic by themselves so I’m happy to report that the cast is full of magicians! Alright maybe not literally but this ensemble was perfectly cast and looking beyond the characters I could see they were a tight crew who really enjoyed what they were doing. Skip Greer as Elwood P. Dowd brought a fantastic mix of charm, youthful wonder, and a dash of smarminess to a character I genuinely would have followed if I’d been present at any of his infamous bar visits. Zach Zelnio and Kassidy Holdridge as Dr. Sanderson and Nurse Kelly respectively were a great match, and I truly believed both their on-stage “will they / wont they” chemistry and medical professional subtext. Chris Hicks played Veta Simmons (Elwood’s sister) impressively relatable, and I wound up actually anchoring myself to this character even though my heart wants to believe it’s more of an Elwood.
Oh, and will somebody please get Kendall Burnett a leading role of his own soon?! His character Judge Gaffney isn’t center stage often but Kendall has such great stage presence and is so effortlessly funny that I hope to see something with him at the helm.
Truth be told, there wasn’t a single character I didn’t believe so I’m honestly just cherry-picking highlights at this point and I apologize to anyone not specifically mentioned. Seeing the cast after the play in the lobby, shaking hands, talking about scenes, or even catching up with real life friends was also a really cool experience that you’re not going to get from every theatre. This simple act added a lot of connection to both the production and the building itself and I couldn’t have been more delighted on my way home. I promise I’ll still be downing beers and banging my head in pubs around town but you can bet this isn’t the last play.
OH! For you eagle-eye punks out there, the name Skip Greer might ring a bell to you. In fact, I believe you can catch him and his band Dead Kennedy’s sharing a stage with other legends like Black Flag and The Vandals on May 4th at “Punk in the Park” in Daly City, California. If you see him there, make sure you tell him that you, too, can see the giant rabbit. I mean, púca!
Catch a show, learn more, or support this local theatre on their website: Playcrafters Barn Theatre
