Overview
Synopsis
In 1666, Ned Kynaston is the most celebrated actor on the English stage. His specialty: Shakespeare’s tragic heroine, Desdemona. After the newly reinstated King Charles II decides to allow women to play female roles in public, all hell breaks loose for Ned: he cannot compete with an actual woman, no matter how good his acting chops are! The final straw is when his loyal dresser, Maria, is suddenly starring in his beloved role and he, Ned, finds himself working in a bawdy tavern-house, struggling to survive. After losing his lover, his fame, and finally his pride, Ned must pull himself up by the metaphorical bootstraps to adapt to this strange new world--and perhaps to find a himself little revenge on the side.
Jeffrey Hatcher’s 1999 script inspired the hit movie Stage Beauty, starring Claire Danes as Margaret and Billy Crudup in a tour-de-force performance as Ned Kynaston. With plenty of historical references and gender flip-flops, Compleat Female Stage Beauty is sure to delight audiences everywhere!
Show Information
- Book
- Jeffrey Hatcher
- Category
- Play
- Age Guidance
- Thirteen Plus (PG-13)
- Number of Acts
- 2
- First Produced
- 1999
- Genres
- Drama, Comedy
- Settings
- Period, Multiple Settings
- Time & Place
- london, 1666
- Cast Size
- medium
- Licensor
- Concord Theatricals
- Ideal For
- College/University, Large Cast, Mature Audiences, Professional Theatre, Star Vehicle Male, Mostly Male Cast, Includes Young Adult, Adult, Late Teen, Early Teen Characters, Medium Cast
Context
Plot
Characters
| Name | Part Size | Gender | Vocal Part |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Lead |
Male |
Spoken |
|
|
Lead |
Female |
Spoken |
|
|
Supporting |
Male |
Spoken |
|
|
Supporting |
Male |
Spoken |
|
|
Supporting |
Male |
Spoken |
|
|
Supporting |
Female |
Spoken |
|
|
Supporting |
Female |
Spoken |
|
|
Supporting |
Male |
Spoken |
|
|
Supporting |
Male |
Spoken |
|
|
Supporting |
Female |
|
|
|
Featured |
Female |
Spoken |
Songs
A song with an asterisk (*) before the title indicates a dance number; a character listed in a song with an asterisk (*) by the character's name indicates that the character exclusively serves as a dancer in this song, which is sung by other characters.
Monologues
Scenes
Key Terms
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Videos
Quizzes
Themes, Symbols & Motifs
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Quote Analysis
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