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The Sleeping Prince: An Occasional Fairy Tale is a 1953 play by Terence Rattigan, conceived to coincide with the coronation of Elizabeth II in the same year.[1] Set in London in 1911, it tells the story of Mary Morgan, a young actress, who meets and ultimately captivates Prince Charles of Carpathia,[2] considered to be inspired by Carol II of Romania.[3]
Original production
Laurence Olivier directed the original production at the Phoenix Theatre in London's West End on 5 November 1953, with the following cast:[4]
- Mary - Vivien Leigh
- The Regent - Laurence Olivier
- The Grand Duchess - Martita Hunt
- The Butler - Peter Barkworth
- The Major-Domo - Paul Hardwick
- The Archduchess - Elaine Inescourt
- The First Footman - Angus Mackay
- Northbrook - Richard Wattis
- The Baroness - Daphne Newton
- The King - Jeremy Spenser
- The Princess - Nicola Delman
- The Second Footman - Terence Owen
- The Countess - Rosamund Greenwood
The production ran for 274 performances.[5]
Critical reception
Kenneth Tynan wrote in the Daily Sketch:
"Once upon a time there was an actor called gruff Laurence Olivier, whose wife was an actress called pert Vivien Leigh, and a playwright called clever Terence Rattigan wrote a play for them, called The Sleeping Prince, with a gruff part for him and a pert part for her, and to nobody's surprise it ran happily ever after, with twice-weekly matinées."[6]
The Spectator however, called it "the very best of its kind";[5]
Original Broadway production
Michael Redgrave directed the play on Broadway at the Coronet Theatre in November and December 1956, with the following cast:[7]
- Mary - Barbara Bel Geddes
- The Regent - Michael Redgrave
- The Grand Duchess - Cathleen Nesbitt
- The Butler - Sorrell Booke
- The Major Domo - Ronald Dawson
- The Archduchess - Margaret Neff Jerome
- The First Footman - William Major
- Northbrook - Rex O'Malley
- The Baroness - Betty Sinclair
- The King - Johnny Stewart
- The Princess - Elwin Stock
- The Second Footman - Martin Waldron
- The Countess - Nydia Westman
The production ran for 60 performances.[7]
Adaptations
- Film
Marilyn Monroe bought the rights to the play and subsequently produced The Prince and the Showgirl (1957), with Rattigan also writing the screen adaptation.[8] The film was directed by and costarred Olivier, who reprised his role as Prince Charles.[9] Although a box office disaster in its day, the New York Times credits Olivier with extracting a "delightful, comic performance" from Monroe.[10]
- Stage
In 1963 the play was also adapted into a musical as The Girl Who Came to Supper, with music and lyrics by Noël Coward.[11]
Awards and honors
Original Broadway production
| Year | Award ceremony | Category | Nominee | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1957 | Tony Award | Best Costume Design | Alvin Colt | Nominated |
References
- ^ Bertolini, John A. (17 November 2016). The Case for Terence Rattigan, Playwright. Springer. ISBN 9783319409979 – via Google Books.
- ^ Gale, Steven H. (1 February 1996). Encyclopedia of British Humorists: Geoffrey Chaucer to John Cleese. Taylor & Francis. ISBN 9780824059903 – via Google Books.
- ^ http://www.natura2000oltenita-chiciu.ro/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/Vladimir-Toncea-Carpathia-from-fictional-country-to-nature-conservation.pdf
- ^ "Production of The Sleeping Prince - Theatricalia". theatricalia.com.
- ^ a b Wearing, J. P. (16 September 2014). The London Stage 1950-1959: A Calendar of Productions, Performers, and Personnel. Rowman & Littlefield. ISBN 9780810893085 – via Google Books.
- ^ Shellard, Dominic (3 October 2017). Kenneth Tynan: A Life. Yale University Press. ISBN 978-0300099195 – via Google Books.
- ^ a b League, The Broadway. "The Sleeping Prince – Broadway Play – Original - IBDB". www.ibdb.com.
- ^ "Detail view of Movies Page". www.afi.com.
- ^ "The Prince and the Showgirl (1957) - Laurence Olivier - Synopsis, Characteristics, Moods, Themes and Related - AllMovie". AllMovie.
- ^ New York Times, review of The Prince and the Showgirl. Retrieved January 11, 2006.
- ^ "The Girl Who Came to Supper Broadway @ Broadway Theatre - Tickets and Discounts - Playbill". Playbill.