The Royal Family of Broadway

Summary: 1939 BBC Television studio production of the comedy The Royal Family of Broadway by Edna Ferber and George Kaufman.
Theatre play: The Royal Family of Broadway by Edna Ferber and George S. Kaufman [more information]
Play synopsis: This is a play about players, and specifically a famous theatrical family and their grand manner on and off the stage: ‘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’ (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Royal_Family_%28play%29).
Production history: Its premiere on Broadway was at the Selwyn Theatre on 28 December 1927, where it ran for 345 performances to close in October 1928 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Royal_Family_%28play%29). ‘Originally called Theatre Royal, and first produced in this country by Noel Coward, with Marie Tempest and Laurence Olivier in the leading roles, it depicts in highly recognisable images the Cavendish family [...] both on and off-stage’ (Radio Times, 1 August 1958, p. 9).
Date of transmission: Monday 13 February 1939
Time: 3.00-4.30pm
Channel: BBC Television
Production company: BBC

Producer

George More O’Ferrall (1907-1982)

Playwright

Edna Ferber

Playwright

George S. Kaufman

Cast

Origination: Live from studio
Vision original: Monochrome
Later transmissions: Presented again at 9.00pm on Tuesday 14 February 1939.
Extant status: No archival copy is known to exist.
Play tags: America, as theme or setting; comedy; theatre or acting, as theme

Title: English Occasional Music (Newspaper review)
Author/creator: Anon. (Author)
Reference: The Times, 20 February 1939, p. 8
Notes: 'Mr George More O’Ferrall’s production was so excellent and unobtrusive that we never felt the limitations of the screen, but the play could be enjoyed to the full. If performances can be as good as this, there is no need to talk about the limitations of the new medium.'

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