Dame Judi Dench will lead the cast in a new version of The Royal Family, to be directed by Sir Peter Hall. The production will open for previews at London's Haymarket Theatre on 24 October 2001, with the opening night scheduled for a week later on 1 November.
The play dates back to the late 1920s, and was the result of a collaboration between the writers George S Kaufman and Edna Ferber. Portraying the off-stage antics of an acting family, the narrative was undoubtedly a spoof of the legendary Barrymores, America's most famous theatrical clan. In fact the three Barrymore children (John, Lionel and Ethel) eclipsed even the success of their renowned parents. A send-up of actors and acting, The Royal Family has drawn comparisons with Michael Frayn's acclaimed Noises Off comedy.
Dame Judi Dench was born in York in 1934, and made her stage debut as Ophelia in the Liverpool Old Vic's 1957 version of Hamlet. In 1961 she joined the Royal Shakespeare Company and appeared in her first film three years later. One of the most acclaimed actresses of her generation, Dame Judi's movie credits include award-winning roles in A Room With A View, A Handful of Dust and Mrs Brown. She was awarded the OBE in 1970 and created Dame of the British Empire in 1988. Her last West End appearance was in de Filippo's comedy Filumena, at the Piccadilly Theatre, in 1999.
Sir Peter Hall founded the Royal Shakespeare Company in 1960, and also directed premieres of works by Harold Pinter, Edward Albee and John Whiting at the Aldwych. In 1973 he became director of the Royal National Theatre and held the position for 15 years. In addition, Sir Peter has directed more than 40 operas at major venues all over the world, and was Artistic Director of the Glyndebourne Festival Opera for six years.
The truth behind The Royal Family's inception is almost as dramatic as the action within the storyline. Ethel Barrymore herself was due to perform in the original production, but ended up taking legal action on realising the script's potential slight on her family name. A makeshift cast were later fired en masse in the second week of rehearsals, only to be rehired five days later. Under the direction of Broadway legend Jed Harris, the show opened to a muted reception in Atlantic City. But by the time it reached the Selwyn Theatre in New York on 28 December 1927, the critical acclaim was unanimous.
A film version, entitled The Royal Family of Broadway, was made in 1930 with Fredric March receiving an Oscar nomination for the role of Tony Cavendish (based on the character of John Barrymore). Ethel Barrymore, however, never forgave the play's two writers for their depictions. In 1943, Kaufman asked Ethel to appear in a vaudeville act for charity. On being told the event's date, she replied: "I'm sorry, but I'm going to have laryngitis that night." Ethel was, with fitting irony, quoting a line from The Royal Family.
Thanks to Christina Beavan for pointing me to this article which appeared on whatsonstage.com on June 6, 2001.