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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 With plenty of historical references and gender flip-flops, Compleat Female Stage Beauty is sure to delight audiences everywhere!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

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
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

Edward Kynaston

Lead

Male

Spoken

Margaret

Lead

Female

Spoken

Thomas Betterton

Supporting

Male

Spoken

Samuel Pepys

Supporting

Male

Spoken

Villars

Supporting

Male

Spoken

Maria

Supporting

Female

Spoken

Lady Meresfale

Supporting

Female

Spoken

Sir Charles Sedley

Supporting

Male

Spoken

Charles II

Supporting

Male

Spoken

Nell Gwynn

Supporting

Female

Miss Frayne

Featured

Female

Spoken

Songs

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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

All monologues are the property and copyright of their owners.. Monologues are presented on StageAgent for educational purposes only. If you would like to give a public performance of this monologue, please obtain authorization from the appropriate licensor.

Scenes

All scenes are the property and copyright of their owners. Scenes are presented on StageAgent for educational purposes only. If you would like to give a public performance of this scene, please obtain authorization from the appropriate licensor.

Key Terms

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Videos

Quizzes

Themes, Symbols & Motifs

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Quote Analysis

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