17th Century period films done by the British are always so impeccably cast and acted that you're taken back to that time when actors played all the roles (including the female leads) and women were forbidden to trod the boards.
All this changed when King Charles II (RUPERT EVERETT in too brief a role) decided it was time for reformation. At least, that's the way it goes in STAGE BEAUTY starring CLAIRE DANES as the lovely woman determined to become an actress and BILLY CRUDUP as the male actor playing women's roles who becomes jealous of the woman who happens to be his dresser.
Sumptuously costumed and with authentic looking interiors and exteriors, it's played in the grand manner by a cast of excellent players, including TOM WILKINSON, JAMES FOX, BEN CHAPLIN and HUGH BONNEVILLE, all of whom nail their roles beautifully.
But it's BILLY CRUDUP who has to carry much of the film with his impassioned performance as the young man who must adjust to playing a man's role when he finally plays Othello to Danes' Desdemona and the two of them triumph in the tragedy when they capture the attention of the audience with an ultra-realistic scene where Desdemona gets brutal treatment from the Moor.
Frankly, I enjoyed this much more than the similarly themed Shakespeare IN LOVE with the dismal playing of GWYNETH PALTROW masquerading as a boy. This should be of special interest to anyone with a background in theater who wants to see how theatrical shows were managed and performed in "ye olde days".
Summing up: Highly entertaining with an ensemble cast at their peak.
All this changed when King Charles II (RUPERT EVERETT in too brief a role) decided it was time for reformation. At least, that's the way it goes in STAGE BEAUTY starring CLAIRE DANES as the lovely woman determined to become an actress and BILLY CRUDUP as the male actor playing women's roles who becomes jealous of the woman who happens to be his dresser.
Sumptuously costumed and with authentic looking interiors and exteriors, it's played in the grand manner by a cast of excellent players, including TOM WILKINSON, JAMES FOX, BEN CHAPLIN and HUGH BONNEVILLE, all of whom nail their roles beautifully.
But it's BILLY CRUDUP who has to carry much of the film with his impassioned performance as the young man who must adjust to playing a man's role when he finally plays Othello to Danes' Desdemona and the two of them triumph in the tragedy when they capture the attention of the audience with an ultra-realistic scene where Desdemona gets brutal treatment from the Moor.
Frankly, I enjoyed this much more than the similarly themed Shakespeare IN LOVE with the dismal playing of GWYNETH PALTROW masquerading as a boy. This should be of special interest to anyone with a background in theater who wants to see how theatrical shows were managed and performed in "ye olde days".
Summing up: Highly entertaining with an ensemble cast at their peak.