No holes between ‘Harvey’

Tom Titus

“Dark nights” at the Laguna Playhouse during the run of “Harvey” next

month will refer only to dark humor.

Beginning July 21, and continuing through Aug. 25, the playhouse

will fill its Monday evenings with the Orange County premiere of

“Late Nite Catechism,” the comedic one-woman show by Vicki Quade and

Maripat Donovan.

The solo two-acter will feature Donovan, co-author and the

original “Sister,” for the first three Monday performances. Either

she or Jane Morris will be on stage for the remaining three shows.

Structured somewhat like Christopher Durang’s “Sister Mary

Ignatius Explains It All to You” (which recently played at the Irvine

Community Theater under the direction of yours truly), “Late Nite

Catechism” focuses on a nun giving instruction to a roomful of

“students” (the audience). Throughout the course of the class, the

benevolent instructor rewards the students for correct answers with

glow-in-the-dark rosaries and other nifty prizes.

Naughty students, however, may well find themselves on stage

sitting in a corner to reflect on their actions.

The show has been described by the New York Times as “uproarious

interactive theater.” Other critics have dubbed it “Don Rickles in a

Habit” and “a blend of the John Wayne drill sergeant and Julie

Andrews singing her way through the Alps.”

“Late Nite Catechism” is the longest-running off-Broadway show

(now that “The Fantasticks” finally has called it a career), and it’s

currently running at no fewer than three theaters in Los Angeles.

Meanwhile, beginning July 12, Mary Chase’s Pulitzer Prize-winning

comedy “Harvey,” now an oldster of more than 60 years, will be

enjoying a revival at the playhouse with veteran stage and screen

actor Charles Durning stepping into the shoes of Elwood P. Doud, a

role created by Frank Fay but made indelible by James Stewart in the

movie version.

Durning, whose Big Daddy in Tennessee Williams’ “Cat on a Hot Tin

Roof” won him a Tony Award in 1990, is familiar to movie audiences

for his roles in “Dog Day Afternoon,” “Tootsie” and “To Be or Not to

Be,” the Mel Brooks movie in which he was nominated for an Oscar. He

also originated the role of the mayor in “That Championship Season”

on Broadway.

Brother and sister Dick and Joyce Van Patten also will be aboard

as Dr. Chumley and Elwood’s aunt Veta Louise, respectively. Dick is

best known for his TV series “Eight is Enough,” but he has 27

Broadway shows behind him, while Joyce has appeared in a plethora of

TV series.

The original Broadway production of “Harvey” was directed by

Antoinette Perry -- for whom the Tony awards were named -- and ran

for 1,775 performances, winning the Pulitzer Prize. The title

character is an invisible white rabbit who is Doud’s constant

companion and around whom the craziness transpires.

The Laguna production will be directed by Charles Nelson Reilly

and will be a tuneup for a Broadway revival.

“Harvey” will be hopping across the Laguna stage through Aug. 31

every night but Monday when “Late Nite Catechism” fills in from July

21 to Aug. 25. Call the playhouse at (949) 497-2787 for more

information.

* TOM TITUS reviews local theater for the Coastline Pilot.