The Royal Family
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Cititour.com Review
Back in 1927 when George S. Kaufman and Edna Ferber’s comedy "The Royal Family" became a hit on Broadway for the first time audiences were as familiar with the shenanigans of the famed Barrymore clan that the play parodied as the tabloids are today with Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie. Since that’s no longer the case, director Doug Hughes had his work cut out for him in taking a somewhat dated farce and giving it new life. Casting the elegant Rosemary Harris (Fanny Cavendish) and the luminescent Jan Maxwell (Julie) was a stroke of genius because the comedy truly sparkles.
This is, no doubt, a star-driven production. Add to that the fact that Harris played in a revival some thirty years ago, the role that Ms. Maxwell now does with such finesse, and it’s a royal occasion, indeed.
Harris is the matriarch for a family of thespians and Maxwell, her daughter, who has carried on the family tradition with great success. Enter the third generation – Gwen, played by the delightful Kelli Barrett, who suddenly wants to throw it all away to marry and live like “other people” and you have the conflict at the heart of the play. The tender family dynamics give the piece an unexpected depth and the universal appeal of anyone having conflicted feelings about sticking with the family business vs. following their heart makes for an appealing story.
The door slamming, stair running, shouting contests are all played for laughs. And even though the actors playing the household staff seem to be acting in an odd presentational style the remaining players have taken their cues from the wonderful leading ladies including a marvelous John Glover as Fanny’s brother, an actor (of course) struggling to come to terms with aging in a youth-driven market, Larry Pine as a wealthy paramour of Julie’s, and Reg Rogers does a fine comic turn as the manic brother, Tony, on the lam from a Hollywood set.
John Lee Beatty’s split-level town house set is a colorful marvel and Catherine Zuber’s period costumes are just the right mix of subtle and flavorful.
This show may not be Kaufman and Ferber’s very best - it occasionally feels a little repetitive - but Doug Hughes has marshaled his forces and keeps "The Royal Family" zipping along at just the right pace until it rests long enough for us to barely catch our breath. It’s a refreshing production headed by two wonderful performances in Harris and Maxwell. "The Royal Family" is a real delight.
By Lesley Alexander
Visit the Site
http://www.manhattantheatreclub.com/sub-shows-0910.asp
Cast
John Glover, Rosemary Harris, Jan Maxwell, Tony Roberts, Reg Rogers, Larry Pine, Freddy Arsenault, Kelli Barrett, Carolyn Stefanie Clay, Rufus Collins, David Greenspan, Henny Russell
Open/Close Dates
Opening 9/15/2009
Closing 12/13/2009
Box Office
212-239-6200
Theatre Info
Samuel J. Friedman Theatre
261 West 47th Street
New York, NY 10036
Map
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