Written by John Misto, Graeme Koetsveld & Ray Kolle.
This is a superb series. It contains some wonderful
acting, writing and directing, which make for brilliant viewing. The excellent
cast lead by Philip Quast who is at his devastating best, keeps your attention
for the whole series.
The series intertwines the surreal with satire. It is set
around two men who are thrown together under unusual circumstances, the first a
lowly but ambitious clerk called Harvey McHugh who is struggling to survive in
the insecure public service of Australia. He is naive, sincere, optimistic and
also a virgin. His only aim is to gain a permanent job in the service.
The second is 'The Minister' Michael Muldoon played by Philip
Quast who's aim is much higher, he wants to be first president of Australia and
also to be cured. The Minister is merciless, pragmatic, resolute and ruthlessly
charming. The Australian people worship him, and Harvey trusts him. He
epitomises the best and worst of today's politicians, although Philip Quast
does portray a vulnerable and humane side to the character.
The Cast:
Philip Quast (The Minister), Ronald Faulk (Dr. Voysner),
Richard Piper (Gordon Robertson), Aaron Blabey (Harvey McHugh), Monica Maughan
(Monica McHugh), Roger Oakley (Bernard), Daniel Rigney (Frank), Jane Borghesi
(Georgina), Bruce Myles (Father Healy), Emma Strand (Diane) and Michael Burkett
(Morris).
Synopsis:
Spay Misty for Me.
Directed by Geoffrey Nottage
Harvey McHugh works as a lowly clerk in the Government's Trust
Department. The building is in very bad shape and the elevator often shuts
down. When Mrs Dewhurst a pensioner tells him of a 17 cent shortage in her
fortnightly benefits, Harvey decides to demonstrate his efficiency by finding
the money hoping this will help him get a permanent position. Instead he
discovers that all pensioners and employees are deliberately being
short-changed by the Government's new computer G.O.D. (the Gatherer of Data).
Harvey soon finds himself moved out of the Trust Department because of his
enquiries and moved to Fisheries.
Harvey, unsatisfied at being moved out, accesses G.O.D. and is
caught by the Minister. Harvey tells him everything about the 17 cents, not
knowing it is The Minister who is responsible for the deduction. Muldoon will
let nothing stand in his way of docking money from patients' pensions and
government funds as he requires the money to finance Dr Voysner's research into
finding a cure for Engelbaum's Syndrome, which The Minister is suffering from.
Harvey's boss, the Minister, decides to remove Harvey. He has
had the elevator rigged so that it will crash upon its next trip and he has
arranged that Harvey should be on it. But things go terribly wrong when the
public service choir, the young Matildans, join Harvey in the lift. Harvey
survives and a good job for The Minister as Harvey is his only chance of a cure
for his illness. The Minister has Harvey moved to another job.
My Brilliant Chorea.
Directed by Amanda Smith
The Minister, states that he's the one who does the trade is
infuriated with the Prime Minister who has made very good trade deal with Japan
behind his back. He decides to use Harvey to destroy the deal and get back at
the PM. The Minister has Harvey is transferred to the Film Office and
influences the woman in charge Kathryn that Harvey be allowed to classify films
even though it's against the rules.
Harvey has developed sexual anxiety and other side effects from
watching X-rated movies.
The Minister tells Kathryn he wants Harvey to censor a
documentary called, "Devouring Passions" a film about Japanese
cuisine. This is the means by which he is going to get revenge on the Prime
Minister. He threatens that she'll lose her job if Harvey does not classify the
film.
Whatever Happened to Baby X.
Directed by Robert Klenner
The Minister is angry with Judge Brown because he turned the
whole Board of Directors against him, which kept him from becoming president of
the Australia Club. He also feels threatened by him because he wants to
investigate the lift accident.
The Minister is also upset about the fact Australian industries
are booming at a record high when he has been trying to clean up the city to
stage the first United Nations World Pollution Conference in Australia. This
could ruin the Minister internationally and locally if the conference is not a
total success. He insists it would take a national strike to halt this boom.
Harvey has fallen in love with Mary, a judge's associate. Mary
is smart, funny and beautiful, but is not all she seems.
Whilst Harvey who has been to work in the family court is
looking after a frozen embryo, which is the centre of a custody dispute the
power to the building gets cut off. Harvey takes the embryo home, which is a
breach of demarcation even though Mary advises him against it.
The Minister again plans to use Harvey and the situation, to
get the pollution levels down and make him look good over the PM in the press.
A Tree Grows in Botswana.
Directed by Amanda Smith
The Minister faces political ruin when journalists discover
that he has been keeping dossiers on the private lives of rival politicians. He
tries to rally support from Gordon his friend, associate and party secretary.
Gordon is angry with him but says the Party needs Muldoon so he will do his
best.
Harvey meets up with Brandon an old childhood friend at the
public service office. Brandon lies to Harvey and tells him that he's on work
release to fix computers. He says he has been assigned to iron out the glitch
in the 17 cents affair, when he has actually been called in by The Minister.
The Minister is getting more and more stressed out concerning
the State Security files issue, so much so Harvey, when reporting to clean the
restrooms, finds the Minister vomiting. The Minister tells Brandon he must not
fail. Brandon devises an explosive solution to solve The Minister's problem.
Paint Your Bandwagon.
Directed by Michael Carson
After Harvey helps a man in the toilets of the public service
office rumours spread that he is gay. On advice Harvey uses his "minority
status" to apply for a job at a government sports institute. The Minister
is also involved at the sports institute as he is hoping Australia will win the
bid for the right to stage the Little Olympic Games in the year 2000. Not only
that the PM has promised him the portfolio.
The Minister hears the rumour Harvey is gay and checks with Dr
Voysner if he could be affected.
Harvey's mother is worried about the way he is acting and his
appearance.
At the institute Harvey becomes friends with Simon who is also
a friend of The Minister. Simon teaches Harvey to do flips as somersaults, and
offers to help him work out. Simon warns The Minister, that the PM was unlikely
to give up the Jr. Sports Portfolio. This turns out to be true which enrages
The Minister. When The Minister discovers some information on research that is
happening on the children at the institute, which could be very damaging to the
PM, he decides to he use Harvey to blow the whistle.
Little House on the Gold Coast.
Directed by Amanda Smith
Dr Voysner tells The Minister they have a problem with Harvey.
It seems he has an iron deficiency and they need a way to give him supplements
without him knowing. The Minister tells the Doctor he knows just the
department. So Harvey gets a job with the Police Department's Art Union and
starts licking envelopes.
Harvey's mother wins the Art Union prize, a dream home on the
Gold Coast but the draw is rigged, she is expected to give back the prize, but
she wont. Harvey tells Dr Voysner about the prize. Harvey's mother is arrested
and jailed.
Harvey is distraught. He and Bernard have tried everything to
get Monica out. Harvey has even written to The Minister not knowing he is the
person behind it all. Dr Voysner warns The Minister that if he doesn't move
Harvey out of his job and release his mother it could cause a serious medical
problem.
Heaven Knows, Mr. McHugh.
Directed by Robert Klenner
The Minister has a problem, Tony Coloni a singer is arriving
in Australia for a concert tour trailed by an unwelcome organisation.
Harvey also has a problem he has fallen in love with Georgina
who doesn't approve of Tony Coloni. Georgina tells Harvey all about Tony and
the American organised crime syndicate he is involved with. The D.J.B.
(Democratic Justice Bureaux).
The Minister problems get worse when he finds out that Harvey
has got mixed up with Georgina. He knows that the D.J.B. will get rid of anyone
who stands in their way and he cannot let anything happen to Harvey or
Georgina. He warns McHugh and asks him to get Georgina to leave before it's too
late.
Hey, St. Jude.
Directed by Geoffrey Nottage
The D.J.B. are back and causing The Minister problems again.
They want to destroy Harvey for opposing their encroachment into Australia.
They plan to try to break him but The Minister tells them he tried and didn't
succeed.
The D.J.B.'s man accuses The Minister of being weak and makes a
deal. If he can break Harvey then they will know The Minister was weak and if
Harvey cannot be broken then they will support him. The D.J.B. plan to use
Harvey's faith and family to destroy him.
Under the Rainbow.
Directed by Robert Klenner
Harvey has started work at Science and Development (SAD). It's
here he meets Diane from personnel who is conducting a fitness survey. They
soon take a mutual interest in one another. Harvey also notices that his boss
Dr Sapersteen is very edgy. The Minister is also visiting the good doctor and
Harvey soon learns why. A destructive comet called Nemesis is heading straight
for the earth. The comet cannot be stopped and The Minister, fearing chaos, has
decided to keep it a secret. Harvey is told he cannot tell anyone which causes
him some stress and even The Minister shows some signs.
Harvey is not the only one in his family under some stress
though. His mother has given up smoking and his brother is having a real tough
time.
How Green Was My Ballot?
Directed by Michael Carson
The PM has called The Minister's bluff and called a snap
election. He thinks winning back his seat will be a formality, but he will be
fighting to keep hold of it against a popular Green Independent.
Mean while Harvey has been moved to the Office of Births,
Deaths and Marriage's, were he comes across a mystery surrounding why dead
people are still considered to be alive by G.O.D. He too is caught up in the
election and talked into campaigning for the independent, but he still has
mixed feeling concerning The Minister. Which way will he cast his vote and how
influential can dead people be.
From Here to Maternity.
Directed by Amanda Smith
The re-holding of the election for The Minister's seat is
taking place. Gordon tells The Minister it will be run honestly. The Minister
is confident and starts to think about challenging the PM.
Dr Voysner warns The Minister he must operate again on him and
Harvey, the Minister says not until after the election.
Harvey has been transferred to Printing and Proofing. He soon
discovers that his elderly co-workers are selling confidential government
records to insurance companies and debt collectors. An acupuncturist tells
Harvey that he has had an operation on his head. Harvey consults with Dr
Voysner who says that's nonsense. Harvey asks one of his elderly co-workers to
get him an illicit copy of his medical record, and is shocked by what he learns
from it.
The Minister is actually just as concerned for Harvey as he is
for himself and wants him to no the truth and so tells him. Harvey is scared
and runs. The Minister is soon in hot pursuit.
Lord of the Flies.
Directed by Robert Klenner
Harvey has returned to work, but is convinced he was the victim
of a medical experiment. But no one will believe him. Soon Harvey starts to
wonder whether or not it was a dream. He is also coming to the end of his
contract in the service and doesn't expect to be made permanent.
The Minister learns that the Prime Minister has been
investigating his past. He thinks the PM is trying to destroy him again so he
takes some drastic steps to stop him, but all is not what it seems.
Fan Reviews and Thoughts on 'The Damnation of
Harvey McHugh'
A Review by Donalea Little
'Harvey', written and created by John Misto, is a satirical
look at the heart and soul of Australia, her politicians and public servants.
Revolving around two characters who are thrown together under the oddest of
circumstances, it is a riveting 12 hour mini-series that keeps you glued to the
television set from the very first. The main characters, The Minister played by
Philip Quast, and Harvey McHugh, played by Aaron Blabey, along with a very
talented supporting cast, keep the film rolling smoothly.
The Minister, aka Michael Muldoon , is an ambitious and
manipulative politician who believes himself to be on a par with God. Like many
politicians, Muldoon is smooth enough to charm the skin off a rattle snake. His
driving, and all-consuming ambition in life is to become Prime Minister of
Australia, (and from what I have seen of the Minister, I would vote for him any
day!) Philip Quast, best known for his role as Inspector Javert in Les
Miserables, is outstanding in this role. Quast has an uncanny, and
chameleonlike, ability to 'become' a character, and in the case of Michael
Muldoon, it is as if the character was made to order for him.
His intimidating physique, good looks, and quiet sensuality are
a definite factor in making the Minister so believable. (Not to mention
Philip's dangerously hypnotic eyes that can be incredibly sexy one minute and
murderous the next). The Minister was rakishly charming when he wanted to be,
but could turn petulantly childish when he didn't get what he wanted. A man of
the Minister's size is a sight to behold when he throws a temper tantrum
rivaling a three year old! One moment cold and calculating, ordering a man's
death without batting an eyelash, the next revealing seemingly genuine feelings
for young Harvey, the Minister is a complex character that would challenge the
best of actors. Philip Quast pulled it off with finesse.
Harvey McHugh on the other hand, is the complete opposite of
The Minister. Played by Aaron Blabey, Harvey is a somewhat naive,
happy-go-lucky young man whose goal in life is to become a 'permanent' in the
public service. A perfect foil for the Minister, his naiveté is almost
frustrating as you watch him stumble along unaware of the machinations going on
around him, but as the series progresses, his character gradually metamorphoses
into something else entirely. The series itself surrounds these two men with a
rather strange plot twist about a degenerative brain disease that is slowly
killing the Minister. Muldoon has become dependent upon Harvey due to this
disease, a fact Harvey is blissfully unaware of. Aaron Blabey, in his first TV
movie, did a brilliant job of holding his own against the formidable Philip
Quast.
'The Damnation of Harvey McHugh' captures your attention and
holds it to the end. The humor is subtle though, so you have to pay close
attention. Which isn't a problem with this series! I give it two thumbs up:)
Minister Article
that appeared in TV Weekly Magazine Australia byCaron James
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