Date premiered 28 December 1927 First performance 28 December 1927 Place premiered American Airlines Theatre | Original language English Genre Comedy | |
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Written by George S. Kaufman
Edna Ferber Setting a New York City duplex apartment in 1927 Adaptations The Royal Family of Broadway (1930) Characters Julie Cavendish, Fanny Cavendish, Gwen Cavendish Playwrights George S. Kaufman, Edna Ferber Similar George S Kaufman plays, Comedies | ||
Ted pappas talks about the royal family
The Royal Family is a play written by George S. Kaufman and Edna Ferber. Its premiere on Broadway was at the Selwyn Theatre on 28 December 1927, where it ran for 345 performances to close in October 1928. It was included in Burns Mantle's The Best Plays of 1927–1928.
Contents
Tallulah louis calhern in the royal family
Plot summary
The story is a parody of the Barrymore family of actors, with particular aim taken at John Barrymore and Ethel Barrymore. The character Tony Cavendish, a heavy-drinking womanizer, represents John Barrymore. Julie Cavendish is the prima donna Broadway star Ethel Barrymore. Ethel Barrymore was offended and her critical comments were quoted by the press; however John Barrymore saw the production in Los Angeles and was amused, and congratulated Fredric March on his performance as Tony Cavendish. (Otto Kruger had played the role on Broadway.)
Productions
Adaptations
The play was adapted in 1930 by Herman Mankiewicz for the film The Royal Family of Broadway released by Paramount Pictures. The film was directed by George Cukor and Cyril Gardner and stars Ina Claire and Fredric March. Several live television adaptions were produced, including one in 1952, a BBC film for television, starring Morton Lowry as Tony Cavendish and Charmion King as Julia, renamed as 'Theatre Royal' and one in 1954, with Fredric March reprising his role as Tony, Helen Hayes as Fanny, and Claudette Colbert as Julie.