George S. Marshall and Edna Ferber wrote The Royal Family in 1927, modeling the fictitious Cavendish theater family after the real life Barrymores. The comedy compares life as a true artist in theater with a dull domesticated life and a false bravado as a theatrical hack.
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Though the play spans three generations of Cavendish’s, the second generation, Tony (John Barrymore) and Julie (Ethyl Barrymore), dominate the play. Tony has left the stage for Hollywood, becoming a star and boozer that dodges his former short-lived lovers and the press. Julie is a prima donna that must choose between a life of comfort and relaxation with millionaire industrialist Gilmore Marshall and one in the oftentimes-absurd life in the theater.
Julie initially chooses the domestic life, but ultimately returns to the stage, ready to introduce her son to the world as well. There are plenty of other characters in the Royal Family, matriarch Julie, her brother and sister-in-law Herbert and Kitty Dean, her granddaughter Gwen, and Gwen’s love interest Perry Stewart. Each represents one of the paths and expands the focus to the entire Cavendish clan.
The Ticket Specialists will have the Royal Family tickets for the latest revival of this play at the Friedman Theatre on Broadway. Check both the ticket inventory and the seating chart to find the best deals for every performance on the production schedule.