Stage Beauty Review
by Laura Clifford (laura AT reelingreviews DOT com)October 26th, 2004
STAGE BEAUTY
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In 1660's England, the most beautiful woman on the English stage was a man, Ned Kynaston (Billy Crudup, "Big Fish"), a true superstar of his age in a time when it was illegal for women to tread the boards. His dresser Maria (Claire Danes, "Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines") adores him and emulates him by secretly playing his most famous part, Desdemona, at a local pub, but Ned does not find imitation the sincerest form of flattery when confronted with a new "Stage Beauty."
This film is already being compared to "Shakespeare in Love," but this is a far weightier examination of gender as role playing and the art of acting. This is more like "Farewell My Concubine" stripped of political hardships under the morally lax regime of Charles II (Rupert Everett, voice of "Shrek 2's" handsome prince). Billy Crudup gives a powerhouse performance as the man trained to repress any sign of masculinity, becoming a magnet for both sexes.
Self-absorbed flirt Kynaston values his dresser as both a confidante and assistant ('I couldn't shed my skin without you.'), but is oblivious to her feelings as a woman. She's outraged when he returns from obliging the curiosity of two female fans, Lady Meresvale (Fenella Woolgar, "Bright Young Things," "Vera Drake") and Miss Frayne (Alice Eve), by letting them 'feel his thingie.' Her heart is broken when she spies him making love on the abandoned stage with arts patron George Villiars, the Duke of Buckingham (Ben Chaplin, "Birthday Girl").
Maria is thrust into sudden fame though, when the King hears of her stunt from his showbiz-inclined mistress Nell Gwynn (Zoë Tapper). Kynaston is appalled - 'A woman playing a woman - what's the trick in that?' he asks, but suddenly his fame is upstaged by the novelty of actresses and Ned finds that he cannot transition into male roles. Kynaston slides into tawdry entertainments, clinging to his female impersonations, but Maria is determined to save him. Maria, a star who cannot act, teaches Ned how to be a man while he, in turn, introduces her to the method.
Director Richard Eyre ("Iris") has made a film that is not only thoroughly entertaining on several levels, but also is an intelligent exploration of how acting pertains to sexual role playing. After his professional downfall, the sexually confused Ned is dismayed to learn that Buckingham (a snobbishly astute Chaplin) fantasized that he was making love to the heroines Ned played on stage rather than to the actor himself. Later, in an erotically charged scene, Maria enquires of Ned how men make love and Ned demonstrates multiple positions with her, informing that even when there are two men, one is a woman. 'Who am I now?' Maria asks throughout as her eyes blaze with inquisitive excitement.
Danes is brilliant foil to Crudup as they exchanges places in the spotlight. This is perhaps her best screen performance to date. Support couldn't be better beginning with the comical Everett as a King whose rule is guided by the desire to please his mistress and newcomer Tapper confidently sparkles as the low-born manipulator of the throne. Tom Wilkinson ("Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind") grounds literal 'behind the scenes' scenes as owner of Kynaston's company. Richard Griffiths, the Harry Potter series' Uncle Vernon, is all powdered pampered bluster as a nobleman of Charles' court who turns his embarrassment at Kynaston's dainty hands into revenge.
"Stage Beauty" is equally randy and romantic, bawdy and witty. Period details cover both the common and regal in scenes that move between dirty streets and richly appointed halls. Eyre and screenwriter Jeffrey Hatcher have transitioned Hatcher's stage play to the screen without losing its theatrical heart. Crudup and Danes give it its romantic one.
B+
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