We enjoyed the charming play Harvey at the Guthrie Theater last weekend. You know, the story about the man who sees and talks with a big white rabbit that's invisible to everyone else. The playwright, Mary Coyle Chase, was a child of Irish immigrants. From her mother and her uncles, young Mary heard stories from Celtic folklore about banshees, fairies, goblins, leprechauns and pookas. These characters clearly influenced her in creating Harvey. Abbi Butterfield, an intern in the Guthrie's literary department, wrote about "The Mercurial Pooka" in the play's program: The pooka, considered a goblin or a nature spirit, is a shape-shifter with a wide range of depictions in legend. He is known in many European regions and under different names including "pwca," "phouka" and the "will-o'-the-wisp." Perhaps most well known is his Middle English cousin Puck, famously brought to life in William Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream... Mischievous and playful, pookas are known for their tricks and pranks. A common strategy of the pooka is to a lure a human onto its back and take off running. Its mischief-making may be frightening and confusing, but rarely harmful. In fact, if approached respectfully the pooka is just as likely to help a human as to scare one. It might provide advice or warnings; pookas are relentless gossips and may trade news of the future for an especially tasty tidbit... Those foolish enough to cross a pooka meet a creature of a different temperament... Once disrespected the pooka becomes vengeful and cunning. Farmers have been known to leave a portion of their crops unharvested as an offering for the pooka: the pooka's share." Without this bribe the pooka may very well descend and spoil a season's worth of work. Because of its association with the harvest, the pooka is considered a "November spirit," and in some areas, November 1 is considered the pooka's day. Coincidentally, Harvey first opened on Broadway on November 1, 1944. Next time you view the 1950 film version starring Jimmy Stewart, think about Harvey's Celtic origins.