All the world loves a dreamer and Harvey is no exception.
That’s Harvey, the imaginary six-foot rabbit that chose dreamer Elwood P. Dowd to be his best friend as much as Elwood chose the big bunny to be his.
Drayton Entertainments’ skillful and heartfelt production of Harvey will have innermost philosophers emerging throughout the audience, inspired by the friendship between an imaginary rabbit and an unusual man.
The story is about the amiable Elwood, whose invisible best friend is a “Pooka”, a wise but mischievous fairy creature of Celtic mythology with a penchant for odd folk. Elwood’s family members are beyond upset and socially embarrassed, as he casually introduces everyone he meets to the invisible hare.
They speculate that his obsession with Harvey is a result of mental illness or his propensity to drink. Eventually, at her snooty wit’s end, his sister decides to commit Elwood to a sanitarium, starting a chain of events that will cause everyone involved to examine their own sense of reality and values of loyalty and friendship as they rediscover the joys of imagination.
This gentle comedy is directed by Alex Mustakas, artistic director of Drayton Entertainment. Written by Mary Chase, who was awarded the Pulitzer Prize in drama for Harvey, the show was a hit on Broadway in 1944 playing over 1,775 performances. It hit again in the beloved 1950 film, which star James Stewart called his most rewarding role.
Ted Simonett is charming as Elwood P. Dowd. He is subtly funny and entirely sweet in the role. His sensitive demeanour with his invisible friend has everyone wondering how much real people have disappointed him in life.
Michelle Fisk plays the maybe-not-so-snooty-after all sister Veta Louise. With Elwood and his sidekick having ruined her cocktail party, Veta decides to have him permanently committed. But She admits to the psychiatrist she has actually seen the giant rabbit and he commits her instead. The unwinding Veta is hilarious in her exasperation. She eventually lets love rule and tells her daughter Myrtle Mae (played Tova Smith) “you have a lot to learn and I hope you never learn it.”
A familiar face of Canadian stage and screen, Victor A. Young plays psychiatrist Dr. William B. Chumley, the astute head of the sanitarium, with command and great presence. His evolvement to drunken Harvey patron is equally convincing. Finally he wishes that he had a pooka of his own (not a bad idea).
Duane Wilson plays the man in the white coat with unsavoury flair and Jayme Armstrong plays the nurse with beauty and strength.
Drayton Entertainment favourite Keith Savage takes on the role of Judge Omar Gaffney with his famous evocative body language and comic expertise.
Jayne Lewis returns to Drayton Entertainment as Dr. Chumley’s glamorous wife, Betty, who plays the part with snobbery of the grandest kind.
Dan Payne makes his mark in a small but significant role as everyman cab driver E.J. Lofgren, who warns against trying to make Elwood a normal person, noting, “you know what bastards they are.”
Set designer Allan Wilbee has created a remarkable, reversible set that quietly transforms from detailed home library to sanitorium while maintaining the feel of the 1940s throughout – as do the appealing costumes by Jessica Bray.
The show has the audience believing in the giant rabbit and he almost emerges for the standing ovation.
Harvey plays eight shows a week until April 29. Tickets can be purchased at www.draytonentertainment.com, at the box office or by calling 519-747-7788.
