Hopping Mad

It seems like in the old days, institutionalization was the cure-all to life’s little problems. Just take a look at some Hollywood classics–One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest, Suddenly, Last Summer, A Day at the Races. If someone seemed a little zany back then, well then you just had to send them to the loony bin, lock ’em up, and lobotomize them back to “normal.” Take, for example, Mary Chase’s Pulitzer Prize winning play Harvey. By today’s standards, Elwood P. Dowd and his 6-foot-3(and a half)-inch invisible rabbit cohort, Harvey, would be able to walk down the street without a single double take from observers–most people would probably think Elwood was just using his hands-free Bluetooth headset. But no, set in the days before talk therapy and embracing one’s inner child was all the rage, Elwood lived in a world where his sister could commit him and his bunny-friend just because they were embarrassing…but happy endings nonetheless. If you long for the kookiness of yesterday’s crazies, check out everyone’s favorite invisible bunny, Harvey, this Thursday at 7:30 p.m. (with additional performances Thursdays through Sundays until August 30) at Theatre Arlington, 305 W. Main St. Tickets are $15 to $17. Call 817-275-7661 or visit theatrearlington.org.

Fridays, Saturdays, 8 p.m.; Sundays, 2 p.m.; Thursdays, 7:30 p.m. Starts: Aug. 7. Continues through Aug. 30, 2009