plans to overthrow him. Nicholas invites Mary to the ceremonial ball, where she persuades to draw up a contract, where he reveals the Germans plans, but only if the Prince Regent agrees to a general election. The impressed Prince Charles finds out he's fallen in love with Mary and wants to stay with her. The day after the coronation ball, Mary's sincerity has inspired Charles to finally show love to his son. The following morning, the Carpathians must leave England. Charles had planned for Mary to go back to Carpathia with them. In 18 months, the prince will no longer be a royal, but a normal, free citizen. Also in 18 months, Mary's performing contract will be over. as the say goodbye, the two realize how much can happen in 18 months. 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: 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. 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."The Spectator however, called it "the very best of its kind"; Original Broadway production Michael Redgrave directed the play on Broadway at the Coronet Theatre in November and December 1956, with the following cast: 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