"Harvey" by Mary Chase (2-5 Oct 2024)

Poster

I've always loved the 1950 film Harvey with its gentle humour and towering comic performance by James Stewart. Then we realised that the original stage play by Mary Chase was first performed in London in 1949 - the same year the St Michael's Players was formed. This was clearly the perfect choice for our 75th anniversary celebrations!

Mary Chase wrote this Pulitzer prize-winning play in 1944. Given the passage of time it's quite remarkable how little we have had to change for this production. True, Elwood has become Eleanor, and we've shifted the period to the mid 1960s. However, I felt no need to change the text itself. I believe this is because the play's central message - valuing people for who they are and the different perspective they may bring - remains just as relevant today as it was 80 years ago. Perhaps even more so.

​I hope you enjoy rediscovering this gem as much as I have.

Photos

Reviews
"Amazing. Fantastic set, great costumes and a wonderful story line.  We had so much fun" Jenny B. and Natasha S

"What a fabulous show! Well done everyone. My guests loved it!" Holly T

"Congratulations everyone, ‘Harvey’ is absolutely fabulous!!  You are all brilliant - charming, funny, - and endearing.  Costumes: amazing.  Set: fantastic - I got goosebumps when the crew drew it back to reveal another room waiting beneath.  And I loved the music!  What a wonderful way to celebrate our 75th!  ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐" Tessa D

"Cracking show tonight  all Harvey-ites, charming, funny, moving and thoughtful - I just loved it and was grinning and laughing all the way through. Thanks for a great evening and huge congratulations on making such a warm and joyful piece of theatre!!!" David B

"Congratulations Harvey team. Tip top. I really enjoyed it today.  All the success and luck for the rest of the performances." Mahir S

"Congratulations to everyone involved in Harvey, great direction, super acting and wonderful set! I thoroughly enjoyed it. Well done 👍 x ps and big shout out to backstage crew too" Neil C

"Wow what a performance it was nothing short of a triumph…you just keep raising the bar. 👏👏👏. It is an absolute joy to watch you all and that includes the wonderfully choreographed scene changes. Absolutely loved  the ‘undirected’ additions! 😂😂" Cressida S

“I loved it, brought happy tears to my eyes, they must be professional actors” Iryna S

"Well done team! That was undoubtedly the best thing I've seen by the st Michaels players. Really really good!” Amanda F

"Saw Harvey - it was brilliant! The female lead is every bit as good (and endearing) as Jimmy Stewart was. I go to the West End all the time and it’s the best thing I’ve seen in ages” Russ D

"We absolutely loved it!" Rosaleen

"Well that was a really fun evening!" Jo W

"Great stuff - and is that a real nightie?!" Diane W

"What an interesting play - and the production was a real success!" Katherine J

"What wonderful performances by all!! Including the scenery! laughed till I cried! Break a leg everyone!" Arabella H-C

"I went to see Harvey on Thursday evening and thoroughly enjoyed it. A really pleasant evening, with everyone playing their part really well, including your good self (Mrs Chumley)" Josie B

"Congratulations to everyone involved in tonight’s brilliant performance of Harvey. There was so much to enjoy and admire. Not just the standout performances but also the brilliantly mechanical set design (a triumph), beautifully choreographed scene changes (what an amazing team) as well as impeccable sound and lighting. Obviously our appreciation of all this was increased by the warm & welcoming FOH and a fine bar. Well done everyone. You made us proud to be members of this happy band!" Tracey L

"Hear, hear! I went to the final performance last night. Congratulations to everyone involved onstage, backstage and behind the scenes - and to Alastair Dewar on his directorial debut. As David B said, it was charming, funny and joyful. A real triumph. In a word: wonderful!" Claire R

"I LOVED Harvey. That magical set, great costumes, slick set changes. Alastair’s directorial debut was impressively assured. And there were so many excellent performances. I especially enjoyed Vicky’s wacky Veta, Dinah’s Myrtle and Alex in the difficult role of Dr. Sanderson. Alice was wonderful as the churlish nurse. And Chris was — please don’t make me say this! — excellent as Dr. Chumley.  But the revelation of the show was Allison. She brought an utter naturalism to a role that demanded total openness and generosity that made the show genuinely moving. Well done, everyone!" Paul S

"Seen Harvey last night. Great direction, performances, fantastic set, and good crew. Congratulations!" Utku E

"We thoroughly enjoyed ourselves on Thursday and a big thank you for sending us the info on the play...What an entertaining play too, batty in a kindly and funny way" Helen G

"Break a leg again tonight Harvey-ans! Loved the show last night - excellent pace, timing and comedy from all. A brilliant night out! 🤩🤩" Richard S

"Great show" "I enjoyed it too when I saw it last Wednesday" "I thought it was excellent 👌👏👏" "Saw the show last Wednesday. Great production. Well done Chris & all the cast. Now keen to see the original film!" Various Chiswick House Rangers 

"Well done!" Tim D

"I thought you were so brilliant last night. I thought the whole production was wonderful." Sally H

"Eleanor was a tour de force!  Well done, great production!" James S

"Hello hello, well done tonight! You were excellent. What an interesting story and characters" Alexandra S

"Amazing, just loved it, big smile on my face through the whole performance"  Mariela M

"Such a great show last night… Congrats! Hope you loved it and were showered with well deserved praise! Now I want to see the movie...." Liz M

"You were wonderful!" Nigel C

"What a fantastic performance!!! All the actors were really impressive, I hope you are all feeling very proud of yourselves" Susannah P

"If Jimmy Stewart and Katherine Hepburn had a baby it would have come out 💯 Allison DeFrees" Mariela M 

"Ms DeFrees has real charisma, star quality, she could be a movie star ⭐" Susan L

"It was fabulous. A really enjoyable play. The lead was super duper and very funny. Birthday meal at the Copper Cow began the evening well." Barbie

" It was fun. Loved the play." Tonie

"It was a lovely evening. I enjoyed the Copper Cow, and the play was enjoyable, and I felt the lead player was really good. Very well acted." Christine

Programme
2410_harvey_prog.pdf
File Size: 624 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File

Cast

​In order of appearance
Myrtle Mae Simmons (Dina Fahmy)
Veta Louise Simmons (Vicki Belcher)
Eleanor P Dowd (Allison DeFrees)
Mrs Chauvenet (Sue Darrieulat)
Nurse Kelly (Alice Klapwyk)
Wilson (Darren Cheers)
Dr Sanderson (Alex Jupp)
Dr Chumley (Chris Hulatt)
Mrs Chumley (Alison Du Cane)
Judge Gaffney (Gareth Sammer)
Cabby (Chris Jones)

Crew

Director (Alastair Dewar)
Assistant Director (Cressida Strauss)
Stage Crew (Christine Lee, Marcella Meneses Richardson, Lilou Schneekloth, Chris Jones)
Publicity (Tessa Dunn)
Set and poster design (Holly Tisson)
Set construction (Chris Hulatt plus cast and crew)
Costumes (Vicki Belcher plus cast)
Lighting and Sound (Ian Trowbridge, Rachel Fay)
Props (Susan Johnson)
Upholstery and general positivity (Holly Tisson)
Hair and Make up (Alicia Sammer, Teena Heer)
Front of House (Members & Friends of St Michael's Players)