Friday, Jan. 20, 2012

'Harvey' to keep performers hopping at Los Banos High

Show begins its run tonight at LB High

This year's offering from the Los Banos Performing Arts Group will feature more set changes than usual, a large cast and a 6 1/2-foot rabbit.

"Harvey" will kick off tonight at 7, in Los Banos High School's multi-purpose room.

Senior Emily Corpuz said the comedy of errors begins when her character, Veta Simmons, tries to institutionalize her mentally disturbed brother, Elwood Dowd, who sees a human-sized rabbit that others don't.

"It's just this wild goose chase of Harvey havoc," Corpuz said.

The 1950 film starring Jimmy Stewart and Josephine Hull was the story's introduction to many students on campus, Corpuz said, because some seniors saw the movie in their English class on the first day of school.

"It's a little daunting to have to man-up to the that," Corpuz said.

The moral of the play, written by Mary Chase, is learning to accept others, warts and all, Corpuz said.

Jennifer Villalobos, the club's adviser for two years, said the planning for "Harvey" is noteworthy because it called for elevated set production. Designers had to put together a reversible set that accommodated the Dowd home and Chumley's Rest sanitarium.

"This year, we actually have a set change," Villalobos said.

Students' familiarity with the story, because of the film, will translate into a larger crowd, Villalobos said. Also, she said, the actors took to Facebook to draw in audience members.

General admission is $5, or $3 for students with ASB stickers, for the following showings: today and Saturday at 7 p.m.; Sunday at 3 p.m.; Jan. 27 and 28 at 7 p.m.; and Jan. 29 at 3 p.m.

Enterprise reporter Thaddeus Miller can be reached at (209) 388-6562 or by email at tmiller@losbanos

enterprise.com.