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A bunny thing happened . . .
Harvey
Malvern Theatres
**** THIS was a wonderful evening of theatre
with a near capacity audience treated to three sumptuous sets that were
changed with the use of a revolve. There was the period library in Veta Louise
Simmons elegant home; the reception area in Dr Chumley’s psychiatric
rest home; and Charlie’s Bar downtown. In this context, a very talented cast, led by
warmly admired stars, performed Mary Coyle Chase’s acclaimed farce
written during the weighty period of the Second World War. Elwood P Dowd is a warm, friendly and likeable
character who has an unwavering friendship with a six-foot tall
invisible rabbit called Harvey. This delusion is the basis of extravagant comedy
as his sister decides he should be confined to a psychiatric home, but
it seems the delusion is catching. The psychiatrist mistakenly commits the
anxiety-ridden Veta Louise instead of her brother, as she also begins to
recognise and acknowledge Harvey; later the slightly manic Dr Chumley
himself is caught up in the imaginary relationship. The complications become increasingly farcical as the story develops but it seems the happiest character in his delusion is Elwood himself. The play which became one of the long This production, which is destined for London’s
West End, is a highly successful show. The design is rich and
eye-catching. The costumes were beautiful, the lighting sensitive, the
artistic direction was superb.
The first half was top-rate. The development of
the story, the characters and their relationships included surprises and
anticipated comic rewards. The second half did not quite manage to
maintain the full comic momentum of the first but that is more to do
with the writing than the production; it would have been difficult to
achieve the same heights of comic entertainment throughout. James Dreyfus as the bumbling but generous and
elusive Elwood was outstanding. Maureen Lipman was his sister Veta
Louise, and her comic timing was excellent and her performance, as she
returned from the care home after being absorbed temporarily as a
patient, was hilarious. David Bamber as Dr
Chumley is very talented comic and, with his intensity and short
stature, provide comic contrast to Youssef Kerkour as the care home’s
heavy, Jack Hawkins as his younger and relatively inexperienced
assistant and to the substantial presence and voice of Desmond Barritt
as Judge Omar Gaffney. There are some somewhat sharper satirical
comments: as he leaves the conversation at one point, the deluded but
kindly Elwood throws a line back to the assembled company behind him:
‘Be a perfectly normal human being; you know what bastards they can be!’
Questions are posed about the nature of normality and mental health. But in general this is joyful and hilarious
frivolity that, in such intense times as these, the audience clearly
found therapeutic and refreshing. This show is set to entertain
enthusiastic audiences on its tour and in the West End thereafter. To
28-02-15 Tim Crow
24-02-15
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est
running shows on Broadway was later immortalised in a classic film
starring James Stewart in 1950.