The glossy film, "The Wedding Planner," might be the hot box office attraction at the cinema but at Riverland Community College, a more subtle gentle comedy is being produced.

Friday, February 09, 2001

The glossy film, "The Wedding Planner," might be the hot box office attraction at the cinema but at Riverland Community College, a more subtle gentle comedy is being produced. "Harvey", the Pulitzer Prize-winning classic about Elwood P. Dowd and his friend Harvey, a 6-foot white rabbit, will be shown on this weekend and next weekend.

"Harvey" was written in 1941, but the humor is as fresh today as the day it was written. The lead, Shane C. Nielson, was born to play Elwood P. Dowd.

"Jimmy Stewart made the role famous in the film adaptation. Shane often comes across with the same mannerisms and voice inflections like Jimmy Stewart had," director Jerry Girton said.

For those who don’t know, this classic tale it is about Elwood P. Dowd and his imaginary friend, Harvey, a 6-foot white rabbit. Elwood’s sister, Veta, played by Nicole Brown of Austin, is extremely embarrassed by her brother’s behavior of introducing Harvey to guests in her house. She decides to have him committed to a sanitarium to spare her daughter, Myrtle May; played by Beth Bonnema of Hollandale, further embarrassment.

The plan to have Elwood backfires on Veta when she explains to doctors, played by Bryan Gerber and Guy Allore, that she also sees Harvey.

Strong performances are by Katie Nelson of Blooming Prairie as Betty Chumley, the naive wife of one of the doctors. Samuel Peterson is delightful as Wilson, the beefy sanitarium orderly.

The presence of Harvey is felt by all the actors. Shane Nielson carries Harvey’s coat and hat in his arm and acknowledges Harvey in conversation with fellow characters.

"Elwood P. Dowd is a very good role model for me," Nielson said. "He is soft-spoken and I am more of a soft-spoken person. This is a role I always wanted to play. We students love the play and the script is so well written. The play, though over 50 years old, is funny for our times and will be funny 20 years from now."

Nielson’s favorite scene is when he is explaining to the doctors and nurse Kelly, played by Nicky Sunde, how and where he met Harvey.

The set for the play was designed by Bob Dudley and built by Brad Weber.