You Can Be Smart, Or You Can Be Pleasant, Or Hear Me Out, You Can Be Both When You Support Gateway Playhouse
by Deitra Oliver
Most of us can point to someone in our lives whom we might consider a little bit different or eccentric. Maybe you have an aunt who will only wear green from head-to-toe, a friend who is a hobby horse racing champion, or a cousin who regularly greets you in Dothraki. It doesn’t matter what the hobby or personality quirk is; we all know someone.
Harvey, a 1944 play by Mary Chase, tells the story of Elwood P. Dowd, who has a six-foot-three-and-a-half-inch best friend named Harvey. Harvey just happens to be a pooka in the form of a rabbit. A pooka is a mischievous spirit from Irish folklore that takes on the form of an animal. Elwood meets Harvey one night as he is leaving a bar. From that moment, Elwood and Harvey are always together. The problem is that no one else seems able to see Harvey. When Elwood's unique perception makes his sister and others uncomfortable, he finds himself facing an injection that will make Harvey disappear.
Whimsy and comedy take center stage, but beneath the humor lies a very important message and question for the viewer. Director Eric Williams captured the heart of the show perfectly in the program: “But beneath the laughter and the farce lies a profoundly relevant question about how we treat those who don’t fit into our neatly defined boxes… True kindness should not be a radical idea. True kindness to others does not cost us a thing.” Under the direction of Williams, alongside Assistant Director Janelle Hawkes, Harvey was brought to life in a rich and beautiful way at Gateway Playhouse.
Gateway Playhouse has a beautiful theater space, and the production made the most of the modern design. By utilizing the stage screens to set the background of scenes, along with movable stage pieces, the production created the world of Harvey with excellent attention to detail. The stage transitioned smoothly and effectively between Elwood’s home and Chumley’s Rest, a sanitarium. Technical Director Peter Avagliano and the team, including Production Assistant Emory Silipigni, delivered a beautifully designed stage filled with details that drew you in. There was a moment when special effects came into play, and lighting and sound by Jason Spatz really helped to make the illusion real. The excitement in the audience was palpable in that moment.
Karen Sutherland's costuming also helped bring the world of Harvey to life. Sutherland brought a keen eye for styling and made bold choices. A particular favorite of mine was a hat worn by Mrs. Ethel Chauvenet, played by Victoria Biron. The hat looked like something a wealthy woman would typically wear, but it featured two points resembling rabbit ears, a clever homage to the titular character. I loved the energy Biron brought to the stage, especially when Ethel became uncomfortable during her interactions with others. The rapid scurry offstage was fantastic.
Elwood, played by Ian Brady, chooses to approach life with kindness. He is kind in all his interactions with people and always shows genuine interest in their lives. He asks questions and gets to the heart of a stranger in brief encounters. Brady was a perfect fit for the role. I deeply appreciated the soothing quality of his voice. It reminded me of Ted Lasso. Brady also brought a warmth and earnestness to the role that felt completely authentic. While Harvey was not a physical presence onstage, Brady did a wonderful job of acting as if he were, always making room for him, looking in his direction, and interacting with him.
Elwood lives with his sister Veta Louise Simmons, played by Alissa Dirato, and her daughter Myrtle Mae Simmons, played by Hillary Poetsch. Veta is a social climber who is determined to establish her daughter in society. She and Myrtle are perpetually embarrassed by Elwood’s apparent instability, and after a disastrous party (at least in their minds), they decide he needs more help than they can or are willing to provide. They decide to put him in a sanitarium. Dirato was electric as the often frantic and overwrought Veta. Veta is a challenging character to play because, while many of her interactions are comical, there is considerable depth to the situations. Dirato did a wonderful job balancing the emotional, often traumatic moments with considerable comedic talent. Poetsch brought the perfect amount of petulance and sass to Myrtle. From Myrtle's first bellow for Veta, I understood exactly who she was.
Veta’s plan to have Elwood committed goes horribly awry as she encounters various members of the staff at Chumley’s Rest, starting with Ruth Kelly, RN, played by Jamia Boston. Of the staff at Chumley’s Rest, Nurse Kelly seems to be the most perceptive, but she is distracted by her personal issues, including her frustrations with Lyman Sanderson, MD, played by Ephraim Smith. I really enjoyed the expressiveness Boston brought to the character. There were many moments when Nurse Kelly’s thoughts were very clear, without a word being spoken. Smith was excellent as the young, often smug, and overly confident Doctor Sanderson. Smith’s delivery really helped to develop the character. Rounding out the general staff at Chumley’s was Duane Wilson, played by Oe Chialastri. Chialastri had some funny moments and excelled at physical comedy.
Together, the three staff members working that night manage to have Veta forcibly committed instead of Elwood. William R. Chumley, M.D., played by Gary Poetsch, makes his appearance, alongside his wife, Betty Chumley, played by Andrea Zakheim. Poetsch brought an authoritative air to the performance, beginning with the character's innate rigidity and becoming increasingly unhinged as the show progressed. Zakheim showed great polish and believability as Mrs. Chumley, as the character brought revelations to the confused crew at the sanitarium.
Veta receives assistance during her ordeal from Judge Omar Gaffney, played by Andrew Czekalski. Judge Gaffney is a voice of reason amid the chaos, and Czekalski gave the character an air of stability and confidence that made the role particularly effective. E.J. Lofgren, played by Ryan Daly, rounded out the cast as the reluctant cab driver who helps Veta reach a profound realization about her brother. Daly was great in the role, delivering a street-smart performance (because he's a cab driver, get it?).
Harvey at Gateway Playhouse was a beautiful and hilarious exploration of what it means to be yourself and to allow others to do the same. There were many layers to this show that made it quite enjoyable, and it certainly left me examining my own life and interactions with others. While Harvey has unfortunately closed already after one weekend, please check out their website, https://www.gatewaybythebay.org/, for information about future productions. If Harvey is any indication of the quality of their productions, they are well worth the price of admission.
