Maureen Lipman Joins HARVEY at Birmingham Rep; Play Still Eyeing West End Run

Opening Birmingham Repertory Theatre's season is Mary Chase's prize-winning comedy, HARVEY, running 6 to 21 February. The Daily Mail writes that Maureen Lipman will star opposite James Dreyfuss in the production this winter.

The show will launch a UK tour to Richmond, Bromley and Malvern after its Birmingham run. Chase's play (which recently appeared on Broadway starring Jim Parsons) is being produced by Don Gregory, who previously told the Mail he plans on transferring the production to the West End.

Dreyfuss (Notting Hill, Gimme, Gimme, Gimme, Donkey's Years, Cabaret) leads the production as 'Elwood P. Dowd' -- a man with only one character flaw; an unwavering friendship with a 6-foot tall, invisible rabbit named Harvey.

Lipman will play Dowd's sister 'Veta', who attempts to have him committed.

HARVEY premiered on Broadway in 1944, directed by Antoinette Perry and starring Frank Fay. It won the Pulitzer Prize for Drama in 1945. The work's first London appearance was in 1949. The play has since been adapted several times for film and television; James Stewart starred in the 1950 movie version.

Lipman, who was married to playwright Jack Rosenthal until his death in 2004, started out as a member of the Royal National Theatre at the Old Vic and went on to work extensively in theatre, including starring opposite Hugh Jackman in Oklahoma! Among her TV credits are A Little Princess, Coronation Street, Doctor Who, The Paul O'Grady Show, Skins and more.