James Dreyfus (Candide, Breakfast at Tiffany’s) will play Elwood P. Dowd and Maureen Lipman (Daytona, See how they Run) will play his sister Veta in a new production of Mary Chase’s Pulitzer Prize-winning comedy HARVEY.
Directed by Lindsay Posner (Death and the Maiden,Speed the Plow ) and produced by Don Gregory, who has previous produced the play on Broadway in 2012 and for television with Leslie Nielsen in 1998 it opens in Birmingham in February then comes to the South East (Richmond Theatre) before transferring to the Theatre Royal Haymarket in the West End.
Elwood P. Dowd has only one character flaw: an unwavering friendship with a six-foot tall, invisible rabbit named Harvey. In order to save the family’s reputation, Elwood’s sister Veta takes him to see psychiatrist Dr William Chumley. But when the doctor mistakenly commits anxiety-ridden Veta instead of her brother, it sets off an hilarious whirlwind of confusion and chaos as everyone tries to catch a man and his invisible rabbit.
HARVEY premiered on Broadway in 1944, winning writer Mary Chase the Pulitzer Prize for Drama the following year. The production was directed by Antoinette Perry, after whom the Tony Awards are named. The play premiered in London in 1949 at the Prince of Wales Theatre. In 1950, Mary Chase adapted her play for the big screen, with James Stewart in the role of Elwood P. Dowd. James Stewart went on to star in the Broadway and London revivals of the stage play – in 1970 with Helen Hayes on Broadway and in 1975 with Mona Washbourne at the Prince of Wales Theatre.
The 2015 national tour of HARVEY is produced by Don Gregory in association with Birmingham Repertory Theatre, with Julian Stoneman Associates and Paul Tyrer and Jamie Clark for The Booking Office.
Official Website | Harvey
Social Media
Trailer and Production Shots can be seen here
Cast
Elwood P Dowd – James Dreyfus
Veta Louise Simmons – Maureen Lipman
William R. Chumley – David Bamber
Judge Omar Gaffney – Desmond Barrit
Betty Chumley – Felicity Dean
Myrtle Mae Simmons – Ingrid Oliver
Miss Ethel Chauvenet – Amanda Boxer
Nurse Ruth Kelly – Sally Scott
Duane Wilson – Youssef Kerkour
Lyman Sanderson – Jack Hawkins
E J Lofgren – Linal Haft.
Creatives
Written by Mary Chase
Directed by Lindsey Posner
Produced by Don Gregory
Design by Peter McKintosh
Lighting by Howard Harrison
Sound by Paul Groothuis
HARVEY is produced by Don Gregory for Harvey West End Ltd in association with Birmingham Repertory Theatre.
Tour Dates
| Dates | Venue | Telephone | Website |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6-21 February | Birmingham Repertory Theatre | 0121 236 4455 | www.birmingham-rep.co.uk |
| 24-28 February | Malvern Theatres | 01684 892277 | www.malvern-theatres.co.uk |
| 3-7 March | Richmond Theatre | 0844 871 7651 | www.atgtickets.com/venues/richmond-theatre |
| 17-March – 2nd May | Theatre Royal – Haymarket | 020 7930 8800 | See below |
London Listing
17 March – 2 May
Theatre Royal Haymarket
18 Suffolk Street
London
SW1Y 4HT
Performances: Monday – Saturday at 7.30pm, Thursday & Saturday at 3.00pm (N.B. 7.00pm on Monday 23 March)
Running Time: 2 hours, 20 minutes (including interval)
Prices
Tickets: £56.50, £46.50, £36.50, £21.50, £16.50 (£76.50 Premium Seats) including Restoration Levy + Booking Fee
Box Office
020 7930 8800
2 thoughts on “Harvey |Theatre Royal Haymarket | Cast and Booking Details”