|
Sam's the man -- Sam Polson, that is -- as The Actors' Group presents its encore production of "Harvey." Polson seemed perfectly cast when he appeared as Elwood P. Dowd last year. He looks even better this time. ‘Harvey’ just as good
second time aroundBy John Berger
jberger@starbulletin.comPolson plays perfectly as Dowd, a slightly bemused but always pleasant man of independent means, whose best friend is an invisible 7-foot-tall rabbit. Not only is Polson charming and instantly likable as Dowd, but his performance is always in sync with his invisible co-star. Polson is also the foundation of the scenes that work best as theater.
Mary Frances Kabel-Gwin returns as Vita Louse Simmons, Elwood's widowed sister, who is using his wealth to finance her social pretensions and advance the prospects of her socially inept daughter. Vita decides that her social position, and daughter Myrtle Mae's chances of catching a husband, will improve tremendously if Elwood is declared incompetent and shut away in a mental hospital. Kabel-Gwin handles the unsympathetic role well.
Patrick Casey (Dr. Chumley) reprises his role in last year's show and improves on it. Casey's best scene comes when the seemingly self-controlled psychiatrist describes his secret dream of spending two weeks under a tree in Akron with unlimited cold beer and a quiet woman stroking his brow. Casey makes his big moment one of the best bits in the show.
Myrtle Mae (Dorothy Stamp) sees Harvey a time or two and becomes a believer, the family maid (Devon Leigh) is insolent as well as lazy, and Mrs. Chumley (Ginnie Little) is bedeviled with a severe nervous twitch that persists even after she gobbles her medication. How Mrs. Chumley's affliction relates to the story is not made clear.
A bigger problem is that the flirtation between young Dr. Sanderson (Ely Rapoza) and Nurse Kelly (Lisa Carchedi) never develops. Carchedi takes her characterization to cartoonish comic levels; she is entertaining without winning the nurse our sympathy. Rapoza recites his lines rather than delivering them as conversation. No chemistry or attraction is evident between the nurse and the doctor, and Carchedi's comic vamping must stand on its own when Polson is not part of the action.
S. Rick Crump returns as Judge Omar Gaffney. Richard McWilliams brings depth and quiet dignity to the small but important role of the cab driver. William Raye Street bulldozes his way through scene after scene as the oddly belligerent psychiatric aide but occasionally brings hints of deeper characterization into his performance.
Where: Yellow Brick Studio, 625 Keawe St. 'Harvey'
When: 7:30 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays and 4 p.m. Sundays, through April 7
Tickets: $10
Call: 591-7999
Click for online
calendars and events.
