Pensylvania Playhouse's ‘The Royal Family,’ written by George S. Kaufman and Edna Ferber, is a thinly-veiled portrait of the most legendary family of actors, the Barrymores. The focus in this comedy/drama is the Cavandish clan, a family chock full of famous actors and actresses, as they battle their age, their fame, and each other in this three act play.
Directed by Robert Callan Adams, we follow three generations of performers as they each look for fulfillment in their already hectic lives.
The action takes place at the Cavendish apartment in New York City, a lavishly decorated space designed for this production by Tom and Pam Steigerwalt.
The setting was quite perfect for the action, creating a warm yet luxurious space for the actors to live in. Old photographs on the walls, period magazines, and a winding staircase make it easy to believe you’re watching the characters in a genuine 1920’s living space.
Julie Cavendish, played by Kathy Patterson, is the most popular stage actress of the time, enjoying popularity and success along with a healthy dose of vanity.
Patterson does an excellent job of owning such a demanding character, commanding the stage with every entrance. It is easy to empathize with her as she laments never marrying her ex-suitor, now millionaire industrialist, Gil Marshall (Bob Bennicoff.)
Patterson’s witty delivery of her lines and complete confidence in the character is captivating, and it’s easy to believe her to be the star she portrays. Contrasted by Bennicoff’s gentle and kind delivery, it was quite nice to watch these two together.
Marcy Repp as Julie’s mother, Fanny Cavendish, is equally as pleasing to watch. She delivers a perfectly polite cattiness through her lines as she makes plans to return to the stage despite her increasing age. Repp’s performance truly seemed genuine as she spoke of her love for acting, putting on stage makeup, and walking out on stage.
Peter Sikalias was a true pleasure to watch as he strutted around the set, playing black sheep of the family, Anthony ‘Tony’ Cavendish. The role was outlandish, flamboyant, and overdramatic, and he owned every second of it.
Tony is forced to hide from the paparazzi after punching a director in the face and leaving a movie set. He is desperate to get away, to leave America for Europe where he can do as he pleases. In a family full of self-absorbed stars, he made them each seem humble while keeping show’s pacing strong with a healthy dose of comedic relief.
Veronica Bocian plays Gwen, Julie’s daughter. She has created a family uproar by announcing that she no longer wants to be an actress, she instead wants to settle down with her stock broker boyfriend, Perry Stewart (Peter Ryan Loikits.) The pair played a charming couple, making it easy to cheer for them as they attempt to make their relationship work despite the looming pressure of fame.
Donald M. Swan, JR, as Cavendish manager Oscar Wolfe, delivers another strong performance. A wonderfully seasoned actor, it’s fun to watch him banter with Fanny, scheme with Julie, and humor Herbert Dean (Chip Rohrbach) as Dean tries valiantly to convince Wolfe to produce a show with him as the lead. Swan's kind but strong character created a nice dynamic in the household.
‘The Royal Family’ also features Dale Beltzner as Jo the butler, Bridget Fitzgerald as housemaid Della, Shawn Kerbein as the delightfully feisty Kitty Dean, Paul C. Bonnici as Chauffer/Gunga, and Tom Mattei as McDermott.
This show is charming and a perfect break from the snowy weather attacking the Lehigh Valley. Be sure to check it out!
For tickets and more information, please call 610-865-6665 or visit them online at www.paplayhouse.org