Thursday, October 08, 2009

The Royal Family (The SOB Review)

The Royal Family (The SOB Review) - Samuel J. Friedman Theatre, Manhattan Theatre Club, New York, New York

*** (out of ****)

It's not every Broadway show that receives entrance applause for its set design.

Yet when the velvety red curtain goes up on the Manhattan Theatre Club’s majestic new revival of George S. Kaufman and Edna Ferber's classic The Royal Family, how can anyone help but cheer. Sure Doug Hughes' direction is a bit lopsided toward his second and third acts at the expense of a slow start, but he more than makes up for it with an overall production that's lavishly grand in virtually every way, including John Lee Beatty's gorgeous scenic design fit for a queen.

That monarch, by the way, would be the play's reigning royalty of theatre, Fanny Cavendish, portrayed by the regally iridescent Rosemary Harris. Fanny's entire brood -- including daughter Julie (an exquisite Jan Maxwell), son Tony (a royally randy Reg Rogers), granddaughter Gwen (a sparkling Kelli Barrett), brother Herbert (a brilliantly funny John Glover) and sister-in-law Kitty (an over-the-top Ana Gasteyer) -- might not possess a single drop of blue blood, but they all have show business coursing through their veins à la the Barrymores.

Having already earned a Tony nomination when portraying Julie in the 1975-76 revival, Harris adds supreme depth as an acclaimed actress who would sooner die on stage than abdicate her leading role there. With gravitas to spare, Harris enjoys a career-crowning achievement.

With this theatrical legend presiding over The Royal Family of actors, following in Harris' footsteps as Julie might be a little intimidating, causing lesser actresses to bow to the pressure. Fortunately, Maxwell not only ascends to the throne in a role perfectly suited to her immense dramatic and comedic range, but she makes this Julie all her own. Maxwell creates a lasting impression deserving to be heralded come Tony time.

Hughes' largely sterling ensemble, which also includes Tony Roberts, Larry Pine and Freddy Arsenault, is also to be hailed. Rather than making this period piece creaky, the cast brings a fresh exuberance that establishes this Royal Family as eminently enjoyable and entertaining.

Ultimately, they're all subjects to the realm of Harris and Maxwell, who succeed in transforming this family jewel of a show into a profoundly moving experience.


This is Steve On Broadway (SOB).

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Monday, September 28, 2009

More Broadway Bows For Royal Family

More Broadway Bows For Royal Family

When I first learned that theatrical royalty Rosemary Harris would take part in Doug Hughes’ Great White Way revival of The Royal Family this season, I felt more than just a little twinge of excitement. In fact, a tidal wave of thrills cascaded over me.

It wasn’t just because Harris’ casting heralded her long overdue return to Broadway after ten long years (and with it, my first time to see this stage legend tread the boards). It was also in knowing that I’d see Harris performing -- for the second time in her lengthy Broadway career -- as a member of the fictional, first family of theatre created by George S. Kaufman and Edna Ferber in 1927, and thus, creating a little added stage history in the process.

The English-born Harris first appeared in a Rialto production all the way back in 1952's The Climate of Eden and has since appeared in 23 other productions. Nominated for eight Tony Awards through the years, Harris earned her one and only honor portraying Eleanor in The Lion in Winter (1966).

The latest incarnation of The Royal Family being staged, this time at the Manhattan Theatre Club’s Samuel J. Friedman Theatre, marks the fourth Main Stem outing for the Cavendish clan. What’s truly remarkable about Harris’ participation is that she now lays claim to being in two of those four productions, having earned a Tony nomination for Best Actress in the last revival produced at the Helen Hayes Theatre during the final hours of 1975 and first seven months of 1976.

Then, under former husband Ellis Rabb’s Tony-winning direction, Harris took on the role of Julie Cavendish, daughter of Fanny as portrayed by Eva Le Gallienne. Julie’s brother Tony, Aunt Kitty and Uncle Herbert were played by, respectively, the late great George Grizzard, Mary Louise Wilson and Joseph Maher. Rabb’s revival lasted 233 performances.

Now, in the 2009 revival, Harris takes on the play’s matriarch Fanny to Jan Maxwell’s Julie, Reg Rogers’ Tony, Ana Gasteyer’s Kitty and John Glover’s Herbert. Tony Roberts, Larry Pine and Freddy Arsenault are also in the cast.

The initial revival for The Royal Family clocked in at 15 performances at the City Center in January 1951. Its cast included Ruth Hussey as Julie, Ethel Griffies as Fanny, John Emery as Tony, Olive Blakeney as Kitty, Bernard Nadell as Herbert and even a younger Ossie Davis as Jo.

As noted above, The Royal Family was originally mounted on the Great White Way back in 1927 -- the same year motion pictures became “talkies” – opening at Broadway’s Selwyn Theatre on December 28, 1927. Under David Burton’s direction, the thee act play starred Ann Andrews as Julie, Haidee Wright as Fanny, Otto Kruger as Tony, Catherine Calhoun Doucet as Kitty and Orlando Daly as Herbert. The play was such a tremendous success that it ran for 345 performances through October 1928.

Could it be that this latest revival will be a Royal flush with success? With Harris leading a superb ensemble, as well as reportedly lavish scenic and costume designs from John Lee Beatty and Catherine Zuber, respectively, perhaps it’s no wonder the initial buzz I’m hearing from previews is already extraordinarily favorable.

The limited run for The Royal Family opens October 8, and I’ll provide my SOB Review shortly thereafter.

This is Steve On Broadway (SOB).

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