The compelling story of the last man to play a woman on stage in a Shakespearean play, and the woman who replaces him after the King declares that women may perform in public theatre. A female theatre dresser creates a stir and sparks a revolution in seventeenth century London theatre by playing Desedmona in Othello. But what will become of the male actor she once worked for and eventually replaced?
Humble Maria (Claire Danes), who outfits top London theater star Ned Kynaston (Billy Crudup), takes none of the credit for the male actor’s success at playing women. And because this is the 17th century, Maria, like other females, is prohibited from pursuing her dream of acting. But when powerful people support her, King Charles II (Rupert Everett) lifts the ban on female stage performers. And just as Maria aided Ned, she needs his help to learn her new profession.
Starring Billy Crudup, Claire Danes, Rupert Everett, Derek Hutchinson, Mark Letheren.
Note: The first English woman to ‘legally’ appear on the stage in England was one Margaret Hughes, who on 8th December 1660, played ‘Desdemona’ in ‘The Moor of Venice’ (a reworking of Shakespeares ‘Othello’). The production, at the Vere Street theatre, was billed as introducing the “first woman that came to act on the stage”. The reaction of the crowd is unknown, but overall it seems to have been a success. Certainly it did not put off the lady herself since she would go on to join the original Theatre Royal (Drury Lane) company and play many more roles in a career which would bring her riches through the romantic attentions of Prince Rupert (to whom she gave a daughter).