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In 1954, Audrey Hepburn and Mel Ferrer starred together in the Broadway play Ondine. Ondine, written by Jean Giraudoux, is the story of a knight-errant, played by Ferrer, who tragically falls in love with a water sprite, played by Hepburn. This was Audrey and Mel’s first time performing together. They had initially met at a cocktail party given by Audrey’s “Roman Holiday” co-star, Gregory Peck.
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“We began talking about theatre; she knew all about the La Jolla Playhouse Summer Theatre, where Greg Peck and I had been co-producing plays. She also said she’d seen me three times in the movie Lili. Finally, she said she’d like to do a play with me, and she asked me to send her a likely play if I found one.” Mel recalled.
Mel kept his promise and presented Audrey with the story of Ondine.
At the time of Ondine, Audrey had become an overnight sensation thanks to the success of Roman Holiday. She had completed her second Hollywood film, Sabrina, which finished production two weeks before Audrey left for New York to begin rehearsals for Ondine.
Audrey worked long hours during rehearsals, to the point of exhaustion. Yet, her hard work paid off. Ondine opened to rave reviews and Audrey won her first Tony award for her performance as the enchanting water nymph.
Here is an excerpt from a New York Times review of Ondine.
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“Miss Hepburn gives a magical performance as Ondine. She is a rapturously beautiful young woman, but there is no self-consciousness or vanity in her acting. Sprite-like in the spontaneity of her movement, quick, agile and bubbling, she describes Ondine’s ordeal in the human world with candor and grace. Under the enchantment, a keen mind is at work. Ondine is not merely an entrancing creature but a vivid idea, and the acting could hardly be more lucid or admirable.
Giraudoux would have been especially proud of her last scenes when Ondine’s ecstasy turns to grief because she has lost her lover. Miss Hepburn does not drench the character in tears. She preserves the integrity of a spirit that is vanquished, but knows that the dream, however impossible, is still exalted and sublime.” – Brook Atkinson, New York Times, February 28, 1954.
.
“We began talking about theatre; she knew all about the La Jolla Playhouse Summer Theatre, where Greg Peck and I had been co-producing plays. She also said she’d seen me three times in the movie Lili. Finally, she said she’d like to do a play with me, and she asked me to send her a likely play if I found one.” Mel recalled.
Mel kept his promise and presented Audrey with the story of Ondine.
At the time of Ondine, Audrey had become an overnight sensation thanks to the success of Roman Holiday. She had completed her second Hollywood film, Sabrina, which finished production two weeks before Audrey left for New York to begin rehearsals for Ondine.
Audrey worked long hours during rehearsals, to the point of exhaustion. Yet, her hard work paid off. Ondine opened to rave reviews and Audrey won her first Tony award for her performance as the enchanting water nymph.
Here is an excerpt from a New York Times review of Ondine.
.
“Miss Hepburn gives a magical performance as Ondine. She is a rapturously beautiful young woman, but there is no self-consciousness or vanity in her acting. Sprite-like in the spontaneity of her movement, quick, agile and bubbling, she describes Ondine’s ordeal in the human world with candor and grace. Under the enchantment, a keen mind is at work. Ondine is not merely an entrancing creature but a vivid idea, and the acting could hardly be more lucid or admirable.
Giraudoux would have been especially proud of her last scenes when Ondine’s ecstasy turns to grief because she has lost her lover. Miss Hepburn does not drench the character in tears. She preserves the integrity of a spirit that is vanquished, but knows that the dream, however impossible, is still exalted and sublime.” – Brook Atkinson, New York Times, February 28, 1954.