Mary Chase's Pulitzer Prize-winning comedy centers on Elwood P. Dowd, an unfailingly genial, gentle man whose closest companion and confidant is Harvey, an invisible six-foot-tall rabbit whom only Elwood can see, and whom he introduces to everyone he meets with unwavering sincerity and courtesy. Elwood's easygoing devotion to his unseen friend mortifies his socially ambitious sister Veta, who, desperate to protect the family's reputation and her daughter's marriage prospects, tries to have Elwood committed to a sanitarium, only for a mix-up to nearly land her there instead. As doctors and family members chase after the truth of Harvey's existence, the play gently turns the tables on its audience, suggesting that Elwood's kindness, patience, and refusal to rush through life might make him the sanest person in the story, whatever the reality of his rabbit friend. Chase's warm, whimsical script balances genuine laughs with an unexpectedly touching meditation on conformity, kindness, and the cost of insisting everyone see the world the same way. Its combination of gentle fantasy and genuine heart has made it one of the most enduringly popular American comedies, cherished for its title role.

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