Edward Kynaston

dirk on 8 Jan 2004   Link to this

Kynaston is the main character in a recent film, apparently.

See (i.a.):
http://www.comingsoon.net/news.php?id=423

Charles Britton on 26 Aug 2004   Link to this

Kynaston is the main character in "Stage Beauty," to be released in October 2004. Hugh Bonneville plays Pepys in the film.

phil mroz on 14 Apr 2005   Link to this

Up until the early 1660's women's roles were played by men, Edward Kynaston was England's most celebrated leading lady, using his beauty and skill to make the great female roles his own. When Charles II eventually allowed real women to play women roles and the men could no longer do so, Kynaston becomes a virtual nobody.

Kate on 11 Jun 2007   Link to this

Actually, Kynaston continued to be a successful dramatic actor after the introduction of actresses, which would likely have happened with age anyway (that was often the story with boy actors).

Stage beauty is good, and references lots of historical accounts, but it emphasizes and dramatizes certain facts for the sake of narrative. For instance Kynaston had in fact played men various times before it became official decree that men could only play men (interestingly, I think the first English woman to play a male character was in 1667?).

Kate on 11 Jun 2007   Link to this

Sorry, the first English woman playing a man was actually in 1776, Sarah Siddon, as Hamlet.

Airyn on 9 Oct 2007   Link to this

actually, it was Mrs. Coleman in a private theater before/in 1656.

Airyn on 9 Oct 2007   Link to this

just kidding i misread the answer.