Broadway Blog - THE ROYAL FAMILY Reviews

It's half past one in the fabulously cluttered Cavendish duplex in the East Fifties, and anyone who's anyone is still asleep. So begins THE ROYAL FAMILY, the classic comedy of theatrical manners, written by two of the theatre's greatest writers, George S. Kaufman and Edna Ferber. This devilishly funny play follows the famous family of stage stars as they go about the drama of the day. Tony Award winner Doug Hughes (Doubt) directs the fantastic cast, featuring Tony winner John Glover, Tony winner and Oscar nominee RoseMary Harris, Tony nominee Jan Maxwell and Tony nominee Reg Rogers.

Michael Kuchwara, Associated Press: "Oh, those theater folks! They do carry on. And the way they cavort and complain has been captured perfectly in the effervescent Manhattan Theatre Club revival of "The Royal Family," the still sturdy 1927 comedy by George S. Kaufman and Edna Ferber."

Ben Brantley, The New York Times: "Hard-core disciples of the religion known as the Theater are scarce on the grounds these days. But two evangelists of that embattled creed have set up camp at the Samuel J. Friedman Theater to attest that the faith lives on. Portraying 1920s stage stars in the Manhattan Theater Club's Broadway revival of George S. Kaufman and Edna Ferber's "Royal Family," which opened on Thursday night, Jan Maxwell and RoseMary Harris are giving the kinds of performances that turn agnostics into true believers."

David Rooney, Variety: "There's a sentimental satisfaction in watching RoseMary Harris -- who played equivocating diva Julie Cavendish in the 1976 Broadway revival of "The Royal Family" -- still navigating the stage with grace and good humor, this time as the clan's proud matriarch, in the play's latest appearance. The rhythms of Doug Hughes' production are too uneven to make all its rewards equal, but George S. Kaufman and Edna Ferber's 1927 comedy about a New York stage dynasty retains plenty of charm for theater lovers. And while the ensemble work could be tighter, its lead performers rise to the occasion in sparkling turns."

Elysa Gardner, USA Today: "None of this detracts, of course, from Harris' and Maxwell's star turns. Women wear the pants in this Family, and they're a joy to behold."

Terry Teachout, The Wall Street Journal: ""The Royal Family" is a backstage spoof that pokes fun at the flashy foibles of the Barrymore family, which were familiar to anyone likely to set foot in a Broadway theater in the '20s. It still has its amusing moments, but the element of satire (underlined by the fact that Reg Rogers, who plays Tony Cavendish, is made up to look like John Barrymore) is now dated past the point of easy recognition, and the humor dries up abruptly and unpleasingly when the plot takes a bathetic turn in the last act."

David Sheward, Backstage: " Hughes has opted for all-out farce with an unapologetically over-the-top interpretation. At first it's a bit hard to take, with the cast running about, screaming lines, and mugging shamelessly. But gradually the audience and the actors get used to each other, and the hectic proceedings take on a believable tone. The Cavendishes are still an eccentric lot, but the cast invests in their caring for each other and their driving passion for the stage."

More Reviews to Come...