Stage Beauty (2004)

RICHARD EYRE, OPUS 5

***1/2 2004. Directed by Richard Eyre. Subtle and smart variation about the paradox of the actors who must express feelings they don't sense. Two years before shooting Notes on a Scandal, Richard Eyre already delivered a little jewel. Recommended. December 14, 2007

I rented it--now it's going on my Wish List

Some people may not realize that those lovely female roles the Bard immortalized were at first brought to life by male actors. Ned Kynason (Billy Crudup) was one such actor and the top of his form til King Charles declared that women should play women's roles.

I thought when I came into this that I'd be cheering the women on, but I couldn't quite do that. "Stage Beauty" presents both sides of the story with such compassion it's hard not to see how wrenching the whole situation is.

As Ned says---playing women's roles gave pretty men something to hope for. He spent years under a relentless master, deleting every male gesture from his person. He truly believed that the true challenge of acting was for a man to play a woman.

Yet, there is Maria (Danes), the dresser to the great man who longs to play Desdemona herself. What hope is she to have save as a dresser and mender of Ned's fine gowns? When she 'borrows' Ned's pillow and gown and plays Desdemona illegally, she sets off a chain of events that reverses the trend of English theatre.

And why shouldn't it be so? After all, "Paris had women actors for years."

"Stage Beauty" has so many great lines, you could spend an afternoon just going back to the good scenes. Costuming, acting, everything was spot on.

I had only intended to rent this film, but I'm adding it to my Wish List and will eventually own it for my collection. It's that good and that well worth watching again. December 9, 2007

Crudup Superb, Danes Merely Adequate

Everything about Billy Crudup's performance as Ned Kynaston shows that he is one of the most versatile, flexible and believable actors on the screen today. As his character grows in knowledge of himself, he seamlessly progresses from an over-the-top actor of women's roles and the persona he has adopted to go with that ... to a man desperate after losing his profession because men are now banned from taking women's roles ... to the coach of the character played by Claire Danes ... then as actor of men's roles ... from a pretty boy to a man of emerging sensibilities and awareness of his masculinity. Perhaps also to a partial acceptance of his sexual ambiguity.

Crudup's co-star, Claire Danes, breathily and breathlessly goes about seeking a way to portray Mrs. Hughes, initially Mr. Kynaston's dresser. She is only adequate, but fortunately does not have to carry the show herself. She is surrounded and overshadowed by a supporting ensemble of talented and skilled actors. Rupert Everett, Tom Wilkinson and Hugh Bonneville are among those who stand out. Zoe Tapper shines in a brief role as Nell Gwynn, one of King Charles' mistresses, though her presence as a character is a historical anachronism. The direction was superb as well.

This movie is well mounted, takes full advantage of some historic sites in England and creates what is otherwise necessary to complete a picture of its time and place in history. The playwright Jeffrey Hatcher adapts his own play for the screen ... clearly he knows what he's doing. There are few scenes that are not full of words, and the dialog requires close attention on the part of the viewer. Hatcher's adaptation is not fully historically accurate, but close enough. The musical score by George Fenton is worth noting ... as always, his work enhances but does not dominate. (I particularly recall his previous scores for "Memphis Belle" and "Dangerous Liaisons.")

The plot contains a number of ambiguities, not only of the sexual uncertainty of Ned Kynaston but of the actor as person and the person as actor. As usual, in English period pieces the politics of the day are always, if not in the foreground, certainly in the background.

A film to purchase and see more than once to savor not only its overall impression but for those who love words to appreciate more fully the elegance of the playwright / script writer.

I initially did not give the film a five-star rating primarily because of Danes' performance, but Crudup and the rest of the cast made me rethink my decision. It's now a five-star film in my way of thinking. November 10, 2007

A sleeper that is surprisingly good!

A period piece set in England around 1660- during King Charles II's reign, somewhere I read (perhaps here) that Stage Beauty is like Shakespeare In Love- only more intelligent. I would agree. This one is for the thinking woman. It's not so full of itself that it bores you, but it has a depth to it that others do not. Certainly more depth then SIL. (And racier too!)

There are many layers to this movie, especially involving dying- not literally of course, though I'm sure at different points in the story the hero wished he could. No, I'm talking about dying to who we think we are so we can become who we are supposed to be.

Slight Spoilers to Follow:

Kynaston (Crudup), is an actor specializing in portraying women's parts during the 1600's. At that time in English History, by order of puritanical law, women were not allowed to act on stage- for painting the ladies was sure to turn said women into whores. Kynaston, bisexual by design rather than nature, does female well enough to make him a star on stage. However, his assistant Maria (Danes) has a secret desire to act as well. One night, in a hole in the wall theater, she gets her chance under the assumed stage name of Margaret Hughes. Of course, she does an impressive job. The King (Everette)- the obvious comic relief of the movie- gets wind of her performance and invites her to the palace. Because of the King's bawdy mistress, who also wants to act, Maria finds herself in the inner circle of the King. She eventually is able to frulfill her dream, free from penality of law- a law banished by ol King Charlie himself.

I suppose our love of setting someone on a pedestal, worshipping them, then knocking them down, has always been- human nature rarely changes no matter what evolution says. Because Kynaston knows he now has a viable threat to his position, he sets about to protect it and in the process gets himself knocked off his high horse. The once belle of the stage becomes fodder for the circus.

No longer able to cling to the person he thought he was, Kynaston has quite the time accepting his fate. And, wouldn't you know it, Maria soon finds- now that she's opened the doors for women to act- she's become passé as well! She runs to Kynaston, bringing along her secret love for him. They find their way back on stage, and while there, Kynaston and Maria discover, perhaps for the first time, who they really are and who they can be- together.

I believe my favorite part of the the film is when Maria and Kynaston actually share the stage together. Othello never looked better and, for that little space of time, it made me wish Othello starring Billy and Claire was the movie playing before me. The scene truly was fantastic and I found myself caught up in it as much as their "audience" in the film. I could watch the last 10 minutes of this film over and over!

All in all, I was surprised how much I like it! Don't be surprised if you do too! March 14, 2007

Stage Beauty

Stage Beauty is a surprise of a film. Its good. Historically correct,funny,suspenseful,twists and turns, and great fun. One should buy this film for their home library. The film never was available at the movies but is a surprise winner. February 18, 2007

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