October 13, 2009

Broadway review roundup for 'The Royal Family'

Broadway’s revival of the 1920s comedy “The Royal Family” opened to mostly very positive reviews, especially for Rosemary Harris.

Loosely based on the theatrical Barrymore clan, “The Royal Family” was written by George S. Kaufman and Edna Ferber and also stars Tony Roberts, Jan Maxwell and Kelli Barrett. “The Royal Family” will play through Nov. 29 at the Samuel J. Friedman Theatre, 261 W. 47th St., map. Regular tickets are priced from $57 through $111.

The “Royal Family” reviews on Broadway:

New York Times - “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.”

Variety - “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. “

Daily News - “Manhattan Theatre Club’s new production of the vintage play is handsome, sturdy and diverting, even if it doesn’t bring the gale-force guffaws you want.”

Hollywood Reporter - “Even the smaller roles are filled with resourceful performers. David Greenspan as the butler Jo and Caroline Stefanie Clay as the maid Della find priceless comic bits in these usually throwaway parts. When the servants are just as winning as the leads, that tells you this is one regal and enjoyable ‘Royal Family.’”

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.”

NY1 - ” This being a classic by the legendary team of Kaufman and Ferber, the stage business is dizzyingly intricate, the wit and social commentary sparkles, and the style is high. You may wish there were more laughs, but at least the sets and costumes by John Lee Beatty and Catherine Zuber look splendid.”

Steve on Broadway - “It’s not every Broadway show that receives entrance applause for its set design.”

Bloomberg - “Doug Hughes’s direction gets the tempo, chaos and outrageousness of those madly theatrical lives right; John Lee Beatty’s two-tiered set is superb; Catherine Zuber’s costumes are delightfully true to period and Kenneth Posner’s lighting is as accomplished as can be. Yet something is missing. “

Newsday - “In fact, there are many pleasures in Doug Hughes’ sumptuous joy of an old-fashoned revival, including a keepsake performance by the legendary Rosemary Harris as the aging matriarch of the Cavendish (think Barrymore) family.”

Associated Press - “Fortunately, the MTC production is graced with a terrific collection of actors who rise to the heightened flamboyance needed to carry out these highly theatrical impersonations. “

Post - “Granted, when the show improves after the first intermission, you realize that Hughes shouldn’t bear the sole blame for its unpromising start: The act is one long exposition as George S. Kaufman and Edna Ferber merely introduce their dozen or so characters.”

Wall Street Journal - ” The Manhattan Theatre Club’s production of “The Royal Family” runs for two hours and 45 minutes, and by the time the third act (yes, there’s a third act) got going, I felt like the lady sitting a couple of rows behind me who cried “My God, this is a long play!” louder than she realized.”

See more of the reviews at Critic-O-Meter.

October 13, 2009 9:50 PM in Broadway

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