THEATER REVIEWS / ‘HARVEY’ : Rabbit Run : The humorous play’s theme that a crazy man is saner than everyone else remains a timeless one. The Ojai version does the story justice.

As durable a property as it is venerable, Mary Chase’s “Harvey” is a farce with a dark side--for those who care to read one into it. The play, a 1945 Pulitzer Prize winner, is being produced by the Ojai Center for the Arts.

Elwood P. Dowd is a notably pleasant middle-aged gentleman who shares a home--his home--with his sister and niece. Both of the women are social climbers who would rather that Elwood was out of their life.

Not only do they covet the home, but Dowd’s presence embarrasses them: His constant companion and best friend, he tells them, is a 6-foot-1 1/2-inch white rabbit named Harvey.

Having Elwood committed to a psychiatric hospital would solve both problems. Veta Louise and Myrtle May could have the home to themselves and not have to worry about Harvey being seen by their friends.

Mel Bloom here makes his dramatic debut as Dowd; his performance is sure and strong, reminiscent of Jimmy Stewart’s definitive Elwood but with Bloom’s own interesting touches to the character.

Mary Thompson and Jennifer Brown are fine as mother Veta Louise and daughter Myrtle Mae Simmons.

Ron Rowe, Lyman Sanderson, Duane Wilson and Leslie May-Zepeda are featured as the four stooges who run the psychiatric hospital: two doctors, an orderly and a nurse, respectively; you wouldn’t want to be entrusted to their care.

Rodman Cassleberry is a judge, Bruce Solow a cab driver, and Kim Howeth plays the maid.

The cast, under Buzz Cuccia’s direction, could have used a bit more rehearsal.

On opening night, the rhythm was frequently off, and dropped lines resulted in several actors staring at one another, seemingly forever, on more than one occasion.

Still, the Friday audience seemed to be enjoying themselves tremendously, and the play’s theme--the “crazy” man who’s saner than everybody else--is certainly a timeless one.

The two sets, designed by Elmer Bladow, are ambitious enough to cause a relatively lengthy changeover between scenes in Act II; an uncredited portrait of Dowd that’s a real work of art pops up toward the end of the show.

* WHERE AND WHEN

“Harvey” continues through June 27 at the Ojai Center for the Arts, 113 S. Montgomery St. in Ojai. Performances are Friday and Saturday nights at 8 p.m., with a matinee this Sunday at 2 p.m. All seats are $8; $6 to Arts Center members, seniors and children. For reservations or further information, call 646-1804.