Stage Beauty

In Stage Beauty, we’re transported to the 17^th Century London stage, where in a maze of dark passages inhabited by aristocrats, paupers, whores and their ‘benefactors’, lives Ned Kynaston (Billy Crudup), darling of the stage, a male actor loved for his convincing portrayals of women. With women actors unable to play female roles, Ned dons the tights and make-up and makes a packet as the most famous 'female' on the 17th century London stage.

However Ned’s idyll is about to be broken up. By Royal decree, Charles II (Everett) makes female roles available to women. Ned suffers a swift fall from grace whilst his former dresser Maria (Danes) gets a major acting break and is suddenly the talk of the town. Things look bleak for Ned but Maria who has always held a torch for her former boss, plans to help him.

Stage Beauty comes with a great pedigree. The closing night gala at New York's Tribeca Film Festival in May, it comes with a celebrated director and glittering cast. It will be welcomed by those who enjoyed The Madness of King George and Mrs Bridge (?). Off screen too, sparks were flying, since Danes and Crudup hit it off and left partners to be together.

As a film, Stage Beauty picks on an entertaining period of history with regards to London theatre, raises interesting questions with regards to gender switches and the romance between Ned and Maria is nicely realized. It suffers though in the dialogue stakes, where you might expect to find passion and wit but end up instead with more lacklustre conversations most of the time, which is a pity.

Matt Arnoldi