HARVEY - No Big Bang for the Buck

The play Harvey, a revival of a 1941 Pulitzer Prize winning play, later made into a movie with James Stewart in l951, stars Emmy & Golden Globe, winner Jim Parsons of the hit TV show, "The Big Bang Theory."  Perhaps, in the midst of WWII, a light farcical play might have provided some badly needed comic relief.  Parsons plays Elwood P. Dowd, a benign, courtly gentleman who befriends all whom he meets, in addition to his constant companion, a 6'3" invisible hare called Harvey.  For those fans (myself included) of Parsons who plays a quirky misanthropic genius on The Big Bang to hilarious perfection, will find similar socially incorrect behavior in both except Elwood charms everyone rather than disdaining them.  Dowd's sister, Veta, is played by Jessica Hecht who earned a Tony nom. for her brilliant performance last year in "A View From the Bridge," is wasted in this supercilious role. Veta wants to have her brother inoculated in order to make him "normal."  Oscar nominee Carol Kane wasn't given enough to do to enliven this droll production.  Just prior to altering Elwood's mental state, the all too wise cabby says that once he's normal, he'll become mean & stingy like everyone else and Veta has a change of heart; Elwood is perfect as is. If you must see this, I suggest smoking a hookah and maybe you'll see the Pookah!