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Harvey
By Mary Chase
Directed by Catherine Davis
At the Attic Playhouse
410 N. Sheridan Road
Highwood, IL
Call 847-433-2660, tickets $18 advance and $20 at the door
Fridays & Saturdays at 8 pm
Sundays at 3 pm
Running time is 2 hours with intermission
Through May 27, 2007
He’s back! That 6’ ˝” white Pooka named Harvey
Attic Plyahouse has mounted a sweet, hilarious and heartwarming production of Mary Chase’s 1944 Pulitzer Prize winning comedy, Harvey. Featuring a playfully surreal fable of the mystical powers from the old Celtic mythology, Harvey presents Elwood P. Dowd (the droll Gary M. Stamm) whose obsession with the large rabbit fuels the comic fable. Is Harvey real ? Well, that depends who you ask since the Pooka appears and disappears randomly at his whim.
Veta Simmons (the funny Karen Doyle) is Elwood’s live-in sister who has finally had enough of her brother’s eccentricities since he stilts her daughter Myrtle’s (the wacky Katie Hammond) social climbing search for a man. Veta attempts to have Elwood committed to a mental hospital until he stops ‘seeing’ Harvey. Elwood embarrasses the family by introducing everyone he encounters to the imaginary rabbit Harvey.
The attempt commitment of Elwood launches a series of hilarious events including Verta getting committed by mistake as we meet Dr. Sanderson (Heath Howes), nurse Kelly (Kate Leydig) and Dr. Chumley (Brad Finger) and the tough orderly Wilson (Scott Woldman)—all of whom try to undo their mistakes as they try to resist the charm and innate goodness of Elwood and his mystical Harvey.
This funny show is pure whimsical fantasy played out with innate sweetness with a pleasant lighthearted touch. Elwood is a lovable guy who was smart and now wants to be pleasant. His simple credo is infectious.The comedy has some clever and sincere moments with nice turns form Gary M. Stamm as Elwood and hilarious turns from Katie Hammond and Karen Doyle.
Harvey is disarmingly humane with loads of heart. On stage, it works almost as good as the 1950 film with Jimmy Stewart. Harvey is unpretentious and cute. You’ll have a “hopping” good time (sorry)…tell them Harvey sent you.
Recommended
Tom Williams
Tom99@chicagocritic.com for comments
Talk Theatre in Chicago podcast
Date Reviewed: April 13, 2007
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