One might think that a play such as Mary Chase's "Harvey," written as escapist entertainment for a World War II-weary America, wouldn't translate well to the 21st century.

I would have to disagree, and so would the folks at Oyster Mill Playhouse who opened the play this weekend as part of the theater's 30th anniversary season.

"Harvey," which won the Pulitzer Prize for drama in 1945, was made into a film starring Jimmy Stewart in 1950. The story is centered around a lovable drunk, Elwood P. Dowd, whose best friend is a 6-foot-tall white rabbit visible only to him.

Those around him think that Elwood has finally lost his mind, but Harvey's presence begins to have magical effects on the townsfolk, with the exception of Elwood's sister Veta, who ironically, can also occasionally see Harvey.

A snooty socialite, Veta is determined to marry off her daughter, Myrtle Mae, to somebody equally respectable, and Elwood's idiosyncrasies are interfering. When Veta attempts to have Elwood committed to an insane asylum, however, a string of mix-ups ensue.

The Oyster Mill production was generally enjoyable, with some outstanding performances.

The most notable is Greg Merkel's take on the eccentric Elwood, which can be summed up in one word -- adorable. His performance was incredibly sincere and very much his own; it was unlike Stewart's, which would have been an easy way to go. He was old-fashioned in a good way, and endearing.

Another strong performance came from first-time actor Richard Lenker, whose good instincts made Dr. Sanderson one of my favorite characters to watch. The side story of his relationship with nurse Kelly, nicely played by Kristine Robinson, was intriguing, but somewhat brushed over.

One of the funniest scenes was thanks to Ceci Proctor and her portrayal of Mrs. Ethel Chauvenet, Elwood's aunt. Her performance was vivacious and hilarious, one of my favorites of the show.

Karen A. Lloyd's portrayal of Veta was funny, but it definitely took most of the first act for her to warm up into it. The same was true for Erica Strang, who played Veta's daughter, Myrtle Mae. She was downright hilarious by the second act, but it took her some time to get there.

A standout element of the production was the clever construction of the set, which transformed from Veta's living room to the asylum with several movable pieces. Considering the magnitude of the scene change, it happened fairly quickly, thanks to the set's versatility and a veritable army of stagehands dressed in medical attire.

The play was well-executed, but pacing was sometimes an issue, especially toward the end. Also, actors didn't really hold for laughs, which caused the audience to stop laughing earlier than they wanted to for fear of missing something. So, while the play got a great deal of laughs, there could have been even more.

Generally, Oyster Mill's production of "Harvey" is an enjoyable night at the theater. The play is whimsical and funny, and the Oyster Mill actors captured its capricious spirit.