You might want to finish devouring that chocolate Easter bunny before you see the latest offering from the USM Department of Theatre. One of the most famous rabbits in showbiz history is making his presence felt, and it’s possible he might take offense to having a bite taken out of his image.
Best known from the film version starring Jimmy Stewart, “Harvey” began life in 1944 as a play by Mary Chase. Wacky, warm and ultimately upbeat, the Pulitzer Prize-winning comedy struck a nerve in a war-weary era and has been revived from time to time ever since.
A nice little message and a lot of laughs have always been welcomed by theater audiences, and the student actors onstage at Gorham are definitely committed to that theatrical tradition.
Patrick Molloy takes the lead role as Elwood P. Dowd, a middle-age fellow with enough of an inheritance that he can spend most of his time at the local bars.
Dowd’s sister Veta, played by Desiray Roy, wishes he would spend all of his time there since, when he’s home, he embarrasses her and her daughter with his conversations with and about his friend, an invisible 6-foot-plus-tall white rabbit.
The comedy ensues when Veta decides that it’s time to have Elwood committed to a sanitarium. There, the psychiatrists and employees make a hilarious mess of things before most realize that Elwood and his friend may not be so bad after all.
Both Molloy and Roy were excellent in their roles at Friday’s opening performance, the former a gentle, offbeat charmer, the latter an overwrought social climber who gradually discovers her own heart of gold. Abra Mueller was a fluttery presence as the daughter.
Simon Skold and Sam Rapaport played the pompous shrinks whose ill-advised recommendations for treatment, once they decide who needs it, are straight out of the darker days of psychiatric history.
Jericah Potvin, as the sexy nurse, and Edward Mawere, as the tough orderly, filled their familiar roles with energy while Caleb Lacy made the most of his stiff attorney. Laura Collard, Kaitlin McGinley, Dolly Constantine and Lake Bellavance rounded out the cast.
Although Harvey doesn’t make an in-the-flesh appearance, the open-minded and generous spirit he engenders in those he touches is what gives this perennial its soul. All involved, including director William Steele and an obviously hard-working technical staff, deserve credit for presenting this classic play in the first-rate way it deserves.
Steve Feeney is a freelance writer who lives in Portland.
Send questions/comments to the editors.
