Stage Beauty Review
by Harvey S. Karten (harveycritic AT cs DOT com)October 4th, 2004
STAGE BEAUTY
Reviewed by Harvey S. Karten
Lions Gate Films
Grade: A-
Directed by: Richard Eyre
Written by: Jeffrey Hatcher from his play
Cast: Billy Crudup, Claire Danes, Rupert Everett, Tom Wilkinson, Ben Chaplin, Hugh Bonneville, Richard Griffiths, Edward Fox, Zoe Tapper
Screened at: Broadway, NYC, 9/22/04
As all-encompassing to the intellect and the emotions that movies can be, people who follow politics might find it difficult to get their minds fully off the Bush administration while watching the screen. For example, while taking in Richard Eyre's "Stage Beauty," scripted by Jeffrey Hatcher from his play, one might compare King Charles II of England with George Bush in one regard: Bush has allegedly freed Afghanistan from the fanatical rigors of the Taliban and their ilk and installed an American-style democracy as a system that other Middle Eastern governments would emulate. By comparison, England's King Charles II, known as The Merry Monarch, came back from exile in Paris and shortly after taking the throne in 1660, he overthrew the Puritanical strain that Oliver Cromwell thrust across England. Whereas the Puritans under Cromwell refused to allow women to act on the legitimate stage lest they be likened to whores, Charles II tossed out the anti-women restrictions decreed by his predecessor and proclaimed that henceforth women shall perform in all plays that use female characters while men shall be barred from acting in women's roles.
One would think this a fine solution for everyone, pretty natural, but remember that just as the Taliban officials lost their jobs under the U.S.-led occupation of Afghanistan, so would all men who acted women's roles in England suffer a loss of jobs themselves–unless, of course, they could perform well enough as the men they are.
If this analogy sounds like a stretch, that's because it is, but I think it helps to bear in mind as the backbone or spine of the film "Stage Beauty."
One can easily see how "Stage Beauty" lends itself to performances on the live stage given that most of the scenes take place indoors. But the movie is anything but claustrophobic. In fact "Stage Beauty," which throws us into "Shakespeare in Love" territory, is an absolute delight, thrilling in parts, a spectacle of costumes, scenery, lighting with a pungent, witty script to match and powerful, yet non-intrusive music–including a divine madrigal.
Filmed by Andrew Dunn, "Stage Beauty" puts us into the newly merry England of the 1660s under the leadership of Charles Stuart. Ned Kynaston (Billy Crudup) stars as his country's leading "female" performer, whose favorite role seems to be that of Desdemona. His dresser, Maria (Claire Danes), is in love with him but her feelings are unrequited in that Kynaston is bi-sexual–a male who enjoys being dressed in drag so much that he is in permanent identity crisis. He simply does not know what he is. Maria, whose secret passion is to act in the role of Desdemona is about to get her wish, as King Charles (Rupert Everett) and his mistress Nell Gwyn (Zoe Tapper) are tired of seeing the same ol' "Othello" and, determined to spice up the theater scene, the king proclaims an end to cross-sexual casting. Ned Kynaston, now out of a job thanks to the new, democratic spirit launched by Charles, winds up in a honky-tonk burlesque house until Maria, who is known as Mrs. Hughes by all who speak with her, comes to the rescue to give new hope and virility to her former boss.
Director Richard Eyre, who helmed quite a few Shakespearean plays at the Royal National Theatre including "Richard III" with Ian McKellen and "King Lear" with Ian Holm, maintains a brisk pace throughout, alternating intimate scenes, such as one involving a bedroom liaison between Kynaston and Maria, with lavish depictions of the court, presided over by an approachable king and assorted hangers-on including the Duke of Buckingham (Ben Chaplin), theater owner Thoams Betterton (Tom Wilkinson), and the rouged, vastly bewigged Sir Charles Sedley (Richard Griffiths). All contribute mightily to the gaiety of Restoration England, with Billy Crudup's anchoring the stunning show with scattershot emotions that allow the audience to empathize with both his tears and his laughter.
Rated R. 105 minutes. © 2004 by Harvey Karten
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