Great Ensemble Makes Family Royally Funny

By James E. Trainor III

Iowa City - The Royal Family, a 1927 play by George S. Kaufman and Edna Ferber, simultaneously mocks and celebrates the famous Barrymore acting family. ICCT's production, directed by Krista Neumann with set design by Steve Hall, Evie Stanske, and Krista Neumann, does a great job of realizing the zany characters and hectic, outrageous environment of a classic Kaufman play.

The Royal Family makes great use of ICCT's space, seating audience on two sides of a 20th-century living room with several exits. There is also a staircase that goes through the house, which adds a level and allows for dramatic entrances and frenzied activity. There is lots of furniture on the lower level, and the actors are kept moving so that sightlines stay open. While this feels a bit stagy during the one-on-one scenes, it's very effective during the ensemble scenes, and Neumann does a great job of directing the audience's attention and keeping the energy up.

The main plot revolves around three generations of Cavendish women -- Fanny (Caroline Oster), a once great actress who wants to tour again even though her health is failing, Julie (Nicole DeSalle), who struggles to make her call time between her eccentric family and her wealthy fiancee, and Gwen (Jessica Murillo), who shocks the family by telling them she want to get married and be a normal person. There are a lot of parallels between their stories, and the tension between family, work, and love is a major theme of The Royal Family.

Auditions for The Royal Family

Iowa City - ICCT has replaced its March show Cat on a Hot Tin Roof with The Royal Family by George S. Kaufman and Edna Ferber. Auditions are being held this weekend.

"The Royal Family by George S. Kaufman and Edna Ferber is a thinly-veiled portrait of the legendary Barrymores, another renowned 'Royal Family of Broadway.' This is a comedy with great style and panache and many wonderful roles.

Auditions are January 5, 2013 from 2:30-5:00 PM, and Monday January 7, 2013 from 6:30-9:00 PM at the Iowa City Public Library, Room A. A prepared piece is welcome but not necessary.

There are roles for 11 men and 6 women."

(source: http://www.iowacitycommunitytheatre.com/)