The Sleeping Prince (play)

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]

First edition (publ. Hamish Hamilton 1954)

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]

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]

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
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References
  1. Bertolini, John A. (17 November 2016). "The Case for Terence Rattigan, Playwright". Springer – via Google Books.
  2. Gale, Steven H. (1 February 1996). "Encyclopedia of British Humorists: Geoffrey Chaucer to John Cleese". Taylor & Francis – via Google Books.
  3. http://www.natura2000oltenita-chiciu.ro/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/Vladimir-Toncea-Carpathia-from-fictional-country-to-nature-conservation.pdf
  4. "Production of The Sleeping Prince - Theatricalia". theatricalia.com.
  5. Wearing, J. P. (16 September 2014). "The London Stage 1950-1959: A Calendar of Productions, Performers, and Personnel". Rowman & Littlefield – via Google Books.
  6. Shellard, Dominic (3 October 2017). "Kenneth Tynan: A Life". Yale University Press – via Google Books.
  7. League, The Broadway. "The Sleeping Prince – Broadway Play – Original - IBDB". www.ibdb.com.
  8. "Detail view of Movies Page". www.afi.com.
  9. "The Prince and the Showgirl (1957) - Laurence Olivier - Synopsis, Characteristics, Moods, Themes and Related - AllMovie". AllMovie.
  10. New York Times, review of The Prince and the Showgirl. Retrieved January 11, 2006.
  11. "The Girl Who Came to Supper Broadway @ Broadway Theatre - Tickets and Discounts - Playbill". Playbill.
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