In “Stage Beauty,” director Richard Eyre and writer Jeffrey Hatcher take what little is known about a cross-dressing 17th century British actor named Ned Kynaston and run with it, exploring ideas about sexual identity and artistic integrity while taking more than a few liberties with political and theatrical history. The film reminds of “Shakespeare in Love,” from the costumes to the set designs to the plot, and boasts several jolly-good performances — most notably Billy Crudup as Kynaston, Rupert Everett as a womanizing King Charles II, and newcomer Zoe Tapper as the king’s spunky mistress. It’s safe to assume those who loved the aforementioned Best Picture winner will enjoy this movie.
In 1660s Restoration England, women are forbidden to appear onstage, leaving men to handle the great female roles such as Desdemona from “Othello.” Most prominent among the gender-bending thespians is Kynaston, a scene-stealer whose years-long intense tutoring in the art of portraying femininity and subsequent stardom has blurred his sense of self and left him emotionally alienated. When Charles abruptly decrees — at the urging of his mistress — that not only shall women play women, but that men are forbidden to do so, Kynaston watches helplessly as his once-adoring dresser Maria (Claire Danes) steals his spotlight. Danes and Crudup, who are romantically involved offscreen, generate plenty of heat in several emotionally charged scenes. The former, however, struggles at times with her British accent and is consistently overshadowed by a co-star who gives as good as he ever has. It’ll be interesting to see whether or not the oft-overlooked Crudup gets his due come award-nomination time. (Rated R for sexual content and language. Running time: 105 minutes)
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on October 15, 2004. Read the original PDF.