Magazine


Review: Harvey

George Dodds
2/12/2005

TRADITIONALLY Christmas at the Royal Exchange is the time for a comedy romp and that policy has served up mixed results.

It's fair to say though that this year, thanks to a 6-foot plus invisible rabbit and the impeccable comedy timing of his pal Ben Keaton, they have struck gold.

Elwood P Dowd follows in a long theatrical tradition of the simple soul whose homespun morality eventually triumphs over the evil consumerism of family and foe alike.

Keaton's performance is spellbinding as he takes many of the verbal mannerisms used by James Stewart in the film version to charm everyone he meets and unwittingly elude the psychiatric clutches of Dr Chumley (James Smith).

Polly Hemingway is equally convincing as his sister Vera Louise who, prompted by her irritatingly self-centred daughter Myrtle Mae (Amy Phillips) wants to have Elwood committed to the sanatorium as his relationship with Harvey is causing disruption to their attempts at social climbing.

This really is a "sit back and let the good times roll" sort of production that will warm the hardest heart on a cold night. Merry Christmas indeed.

Harvey is on at the Royal Exchange until January 7.


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