Can you see the real me?

Elwood P. Dowd is the nicest person anyone in his small town is likely to meet. He greets everyone like a long lost friend, listens to their problems and offers assistance to those in need.

He also appears to constantly be talking to someone that no one but him can see –; a six-foot rabbit named Harvey.

That’s the premise between Denver native Mary Chase’s Pulitzer Prize winning play “Harvey,” which brings its unique blend of humor and heart to the Arvada Center.

The center, 6901 Wadsworth Blvd., is hosting “Harvey” through Feb. 22. Show times are Tuesday through Saturday at 7:30 p.m., Wednesday at 1 p.m. and Saturday through Sunday at 2 p.m.

“Our director’s (Gavin Mayer) approach is that Elwood is the sane one,” said Missy Moore, who plays Elwood’s niece Myrtle Mae Simmons. “That vision helps all of us to make the journey real.”

Torsten Hillhouse plays Elwood and credits Elwood’s broad and open perspective as the main reason he can see Harvey.

“The play was written during wartime, and I think people needed that positive energy,” Hillhouse said. “This show is about connection and lets us really see, because Elwood sees so much.”

Seeing Harvey is a bit of a family affair and Elwood’s sister Veta (Kate Gleason) has a connection to the rabbit –; one she wants no part of, particularly when she is trying to find a suitable husband for her daughter.

“She doesn’t want Harvey in her home and let him know on no uncertain terms about that,” Gleason said. “Everyone in the show has an agenda but Elwood.”

Moore and Gleason said the relationship between Myrtle Mae and Veta is a partnership –; they’re both working toward the same goal of finding a husband for Myrtle Mae. It just so happens Veta is a little more graceful about it.

However, things get so bad for Veta she tries to have Elwood committed, which brings the family into the care of pompous but oblivious Dr. Lyman Sanderson (Graham Ward).

“He is so anxious to be important and is completely moronic, but with a high education,” Ward said. “In any comedy, it takes a little obliviousness.”

Working with an imaginary character would be challenging for anyone, but the cast uses Harvey’s presence to create a truly delightful comedy.

“There are situations when the rest of us don’t know Harvey is in the room and it’s really funny watching Elwood include someone we don’t know is there,” Ward said.

For Hillhouse, Harvey is a constant presence that he gets to test his jokes out on and a scene partner. Moore sees him as the representation of a choice everyone has to make in their lives about how they want to see the world.

“People may think of this as an old chestnut, but it’s really modern without commenting on it,” Gleason said. “It’s about relationships and has some really beautiful moments.”

In the end, “Harvey” asks why more people can’t be as sane as Elwood.

“You can see the shift in the room –; so many people enter in a bad mood but Elwood makes everyone better,” Moore said. “There are so many lovely moments of acceptance of who people are in the play.”

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