With
the tragically early passing of Liz Harvey, known as Liz Caswell in my Luton
News reviewing days, the local acting scene has lost a major theatrical talent.
From my first seeing her in Midsummer
Night’s Dream (Dunstable Rep- 2002)
to watching her rehearse in Neighbourhood
Watch (St. Andrews -Toddington 2015)
I have been enraptured by her depth and sensitivity. My wife once told me that
I could watch this lady on stage creosoting a fence and still be captivated and
she was not far wrong. When 2002 ended I had also seen her at the Rep as a
definitive model cum aspiring actress in Ben Elton’s savagely comic Popcorn and as the sexually frustrated
Belinda in Ayckbourn’s Seasons Greetings.
These performances ensured she figured on my list of best actresses of 2002
(Luton News – Review of the Year) but
it was her portrayal of Shakespeare’s daughter in Alan Goss’s exceptional
staging of Peter Whelan’s The Herbal Bed
(Dunstable Rep – 2003) that
firmly launched her, in my mind, as one of the outstanding female talents in
the area. Her acutely sensitive Susanna Hall, deftly moving from maternal love
to sexual awakening, absolutely mesmerised. None who saw this performance could
begrudge my giving her an emphatic 2003 Best Actress award. I gave up reviewing
for the Luton News in 2006 but not before I had taken in her performances in Sweet Charity (DAOS) and Little Shop of
Horrors (The Rep - 2004), the
former evoking the fence creosoting comment, and her wonderful portrayal of
Anastasia in Royce Ryton’s The Anastasia
File (Dunstable Rep – 2004). If I
only quote one review I did on this exceptional actress it has to be this. 'Alistair Brown owes a considerable debt to
Liz Caswell’s wonderful portrayal of Anastasia. One of these fine days this
actress is going to disappoint but judged on her recent performances it is
going to be a long wait. Even doing nothing it is impossible to take your eyes
off Miss Caswell. The harrowing voice, the fluttering movements, and the
frightened childlike expression totally convinced. Her reactions to an unseen
film of the Tsar and his family depicted an actress at the height of her emotive powers.' - Luton News 11th February 2004. I took a break
from reviewing for a few years but, getting technologically confident, I
started my own theatre blog in 2011. One of my first reviews, and still one of
the best productions I have seen, was ACT’s staging of Noel Coward’s Still Life (Dunstable – July 2011). Made famous by Trevor Howard and Celia
Johnson in the Brief Encounter film,
Elliott Lawrence and Liz Caswell were perfectly cast as the ultra respectable
Alec and Laura with the doomed desire and Ms Caswell ‘rivetingly painted a picture of a fragile woman drifting perilously out
of her depth’. In complete contrast she was a superb and sexually
frustrated Maggie in Cat on a Hot Tin
Roof (The Rep – 2012) bringing
out the best in Dave Corbett’s brooding Brick and a cow of consummate depth and
artistry as Ruth in Ayckbourn’s Table
Manners (The Rep – 2014). I only
directed Liz once but it is a theatrical experience printed indelibly on my
mind. In 2011 Dunstable Rep invited me to direct with a play of my choice. I
knew the play I wanted to do and I knew who I wanted to play the main part.
Alma Rattenbury in Terence Rattigan’s Cause
Celebre is a sexually frustrated, sensitive, and artistic woman trapped in
a nightmare not of her making. Based on a real life famous 1930’s murder case
the play grips for slowly emerging narrative and claustrophobic courtroom
drama. Liz relished and consumed the part in a performance that still lingers
in my mind. Her talent, hard work and professionalism did not surprise me, I
had seen it so many times in other productions; her modest and gentle manner,
her fun loving personality, her generosity with other actors did. Never a
tantrum, only smiles and a wicked sense of fun. I saw all that again when we
both were late replacements in what, sadly, turned out to be her last stage
performances in Toddington last year. It was then that I also saw her immense
and inspiring courage. A super, super, gifted actress taken from the stages on
which she so brilliantly shone much too early. She will be sadly missed for a
long time. Roy Hall
Liz Harvey 2nd December 1967
to 8th August 2016. (Aged 48)
She leaves a husband, Simon, and a son,
Max. Sincerest condolences to both.
