Billy Crudup, Claire Danes to Star in Jeffrey Hatcher's Compleat Female Stage Beauty Film

By Ernio Hernandez
30 Apr 2003

Jeffrey Hatcher's stagework Compleat Female Stage Beauty will make the leap to the big screen with Billy Crudup and Claire Danes, according to Variety. The Artisan Pictures production will be directed by Richard Eyre.

During the Restoration, when men playing women's roles in theatre were a dying breed, Edward Kynaston was one of the most notable actresses. The English diarist Samuel Pepys, upon attending a performance of Ben Jonson's The Silent Woman, wrote he "was clearly the prettiest woman in the whole house." Later, upon seeing him performing as a man, he wrote "likewise did appear the handsomest man in the house."

Kynaston did eventually make a name for himself in London as a leading man, but the story of his days in women's clothing is told in Jeffrey Hatcher's Compleat Female Stage Beauty. Hatcher's tribute has played at the Philadelphia Theatre Company and The Old Globe in San Diego.

Hatcher's plays include Three Viewings, Tuesdays with Morrie and Scotland Road. His latest work includes the book for the upcoming Broadway musical Never Gonna Dance and an adaptation of Kaufman and Hart's The Fabulous Invalid.

Eyre is currently represented on Broadway by the production of Vincent in Brixton. He served as director of the Royal National Theatre until 1997, directing 27 productions including Guys and Dolls, Hamlet, The Invention of Love as well as Racing Demon, Skylight, and Amy's View — the latter half on Broadway as well. Last season he was nominated for a Tony Award for his direction of the Broadway revival of The Crucible. He has directed for television and films including "The Ploughman's Lunch" and his screenplay for "Iris."