Church Hill Theatre - Talbot Spy

Harvey, one of Broadway’s all-time biggest comedy hits, starts September 8 at Church Hill Theatre and will run through September 24. Opening on Broadway in 1944, Harvey played until 1949, winning the Pulitzer Prize for Best Play and delighting war-time audiences. The 1950 film version starring Jimmy Stewart then endeared Harvey to millions of people around the world. This Church Hill Theatre revival directed by Bonnie Hill will bring this iconic six-foot-tall rabbit to a whole new generation.

Chumley’s Rest staff with potential psychiatric patients: Left to Right, Elwood P. Dowd (Frank St. Armour), Orderly Wilson (Michael Moore), Dr. Sanderson (James Diggs ), Dowd’s sister Vera Simmons (Debra.McGuire ), Nurse Kelly (Sharon Herz ) and Dr. Chumley (Brian McGonigle)
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The play’s premise is simple—The Dowd family and their friends cannot enjoy a normal social life because Elwood brings his best friend Harvey everywhere. Harvey is what we would call a “party animal” but in addition to liking a drink, Harvey is an invisible pooka and, oh yes, also a very large rabbit. Elwood’s sister Vera decides that a long, even permanent, stay at Chumley’s Rest, a psychiatric facility, is the only solution. But a mix-up puts the wrong Dowd inside and the medical establishment is no match for pooka magic. By the end of the play, even the shrinks are struggling to define reality.

The always charming Elwood P. Dowd is played by Frank St. Armour. His frustrated sister Veta (Debra McGuire), niece Myrtle Mae (Brianna Johnson) and aunt Mrs. Chauvenet (Sheila Austrian) work with their lawyer, Judge Gaffney (John Kamp), to have him committed. The sanitarium staff then do their best but psychiatrists Dr. Chumley (Brian McGunigle) and Dr. Sanderson (James Diggs), along with a helpful nurse (Sharon Herz) and tough orderly (Michael Moore) are unable to bring order out of chaos. Mrs. Chumley (Sheila Austrian) and an irascible cab driver (Bob Chauncey) eventually help sort things out. And because Harvey is a pooka, he plays himself.

Assisting Bonnie Hill on the production team are Stage Manager Steve Atkinson, Producer Sheila Austrian, Set Designer Earl Lewin, Set Construction Chief Carmelo Grasso, Lighting Designer Doug Kauffman, Assistant Stage Manager Jean Messick, Costumer Christina Johnson and Properties Chief Wendy Sardo.

Lead image” Elwood introduces Harvey to his sister and aunt: Left to Right: Vera Louise Simmons (Debra McGuire ), Mrs. Chauvenet (Sheila Austrian), Elwood P. Dowd (Frank St. Armour)

Harvey opens at Church Hill Theatre on Friday, September 8 and will run until September 24. Performances are on Fridays and Saturdays at 8 pm and on Sundays at 2 pm. Tickets are available on the CHT website: churchhilltheatre.org or through the box-office at 410-556-6003.

Perhaps the English-speaking world’s most famous modern comedy, Oscar Wilde’s The Importance of Being Earnest will take the stage soon at Church Hill Theatre. Directed and produced by Sylvia Maloney, the beloved play will run from November 1 to 17. Set in 1890s England, with razor sharp wit and unexpected plot twists, this comedy of manners has delighted audiences for more than a century.

Maloney’s cast includes some first-timers along with many Church Hill Theatre veterans. Debra Ebersole plays the gorgon-like Lady Bracknell, the formidable mother of spirited Gwendolyn Fairfax (Christine Kinlock) and aunt to the rakish Algernon Moncrieff (John Beck). Algernon’s wealthy friend, Jack Worthing (Howard Mesick), is both madly in love with Gwendolyn and protective of his innocent young ward Cecily Cardew (Cavin Moore), who is soon being wooed by Algernon. Sheila Austrian portrays Miss Prism, Cecily’s prim and proper governess, who herself is smitten by the dotty local vicar, Dr. Chausable (Charles “Pat” Patterson). Frank St-Armor plays Lane, Algernon’s knowingly wise manservant. Jim Johnson and Ronald “Speedy” Christopher, Jr. share the role of Merriman, the factotum at Jack’s country house.

Christine Kinlock plays Gwendolyn Fairfax opposite John Beck as Algernon Moncrieff in Oscar Wilde’s witty comedy of manners, The Importance of Being Earnest.

Oscar Wilde pokes and jokes at the full range of attributes we now call Victorian. Education, religion, class and even the institution of marriage itself are the source of good-natured satire. Although filthy rich and extremely personable, Jack’s lack of “breeding” (he was found in a train station luggage locker) makes him an unsuitable Victorian marriage partner. Things are not as they first seem, however, and the plot unravels until all is made clear in the hilarious final scene.

Tom Rhodes is designing and building the set along with Jim Johnson and Carmen Grasso. Doug Kaufmann will design and execute the lighting while Tina Johnson is in charge of costumes. Jim Johnson and Speedy Christopher serve as the co-stage managers and Steve Atkinson mans the camera as the photographer.

The Importance of Being Earnest runs from November 1 to 17, with performances on Fridays and Saturdays at 8 pm and on Sundays at 2 pm. CHT offers special 2 for the price of 1 ticket on opening night, Friday, November 1 for those who reserve by phone. Call the box office at 410-556-6003 or visit the website www.churchhilltheatre.org for details and reservations.

Harvey, A Comedy Classic To Open At Church Hill Theatre

Cast Chosen for “The Importance of Being Earnest”

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