The Manhattan Theatre Club debuted a new production of George S. Kaufman and Edna Ferber's "The Royal Family" on Thursday. NY1 contributing critic David Cote, of Time Out New York, filed the following review.

The Manhattan Theatre Club invites you to visit a time that, while fantastical, once existed. A time when actors behaved like aristocracy, they shunned Hollywood in favor of the stage, and plays had three acts, 16 actors, oh, and two dogs making a last-minute cameo. It's George S. Kaufman and Edna Ferber's 1927 showbiz comedy "The Royal Family," and it's a pleasant enough trip in the time machine.

Doug Hughes directs this handsome and comfortable revival, which could use a bit more screwball verve. Luckily, antic insanity is supplied by the scenery gobbling, hilariously emphatic Reg Rogers in the flashy role of Tony Cavendish, hot-tempered son of Fanny Cavendish. Fanny is the head of the theatrical Cavendish acting dynasty, and she's played by the luminous and tart-tongued Rosemary Harris. Interesting fact -- Harris starred in the play's last Broadway revival in 1975 as stage diva Julie. Now Harris is the mother and Jan Maxwell is Julie. Maxwell has several fine moments of dry delivery and ennui-filled physical comedy, but too often soft-pedals the humor and glamour. That's not a problem for Rogers, who bounds about declaiming his lines, three musketeers in one body.

Among the tastier supporting turns are John Glover as a vain has-been actor-uncle, Ana Gasteyer as his vulgar wife Kitty, and the inimitable David Greenspan as a saucy servant.

In terms of plot, we follow the tribulations of the Cavendishes as they struggle to balance their insatiable hunger for the spotlight with the instinct to settle down with a businessman and live a normal life. This being a classic by the legendary team of Kaufman and Ferber, the stage business is dizzyingly intricate, the wit and social commentary sparkles, and the style is high. You may wish there were more laughs, but at least the sets and costumes by John Lee Beatty and Catherine Zuber look splendid.

Revivals are always a tricky balance between archeology and restoration, and "The Royal Family" scores above average. It's a tasteful banquet of nostalgia served up with class, with a horde of worthy actors still struggling to get on the same page.