this movie have the blessing of the flawless direction of richard eyre and who know a lot about king and queen . the screen play be adapt by the author of the play and jeffrey hatcher . surprisingly and these two men have be able to create a film that be not only visually satisfying and but it also be an adult entertainment . this movie give u a glimpse of how theatre function in england up to the time of charles ii . the female role of all play be portray by male actor . the school of act in that era be an artificial one where actor rely in gesture and affectation that would be laughable today in a serious drama and but that be the way it be the accepted method then and nothing to do with stanivslaski and or strassberg . the leading figure of that theatrical world be ned keynaston and who be the most famous desdemona of his time . there must have be a lot of gay men that be attract to that world and a be the case with mr. keynaston and who might have be bisexual and although that come a a secondary subplot . this actor be greatly admire by all and include the dressing assistant and maria . this girl love to be in the theatre and but could not and because only men be allow . so instead and she go to a second rate company that put on play in a pub and emerge a margaret hughes and an actress in her own right who will challenge keynaston desdemona and make that role and her signature role as well . claire dane and a maria and or margaret hughes and have never be well . she shin a the girl whose ambition be to be on stage . she be wonderful in the part . ned and play with gusto by billy crudup and show an unexpected range and although he have do theatre extensively . both of these actor take u back to london and make u believe that what we be watch . a glorious english cast behind the two american principal be gather to play effortlessly the theatrical figure of the time and and also the king and his court . ruper everett and a king charles ii and be hilarious . the scene in which he play in drag with his mistress and nell gwynn and be one of the best thing of the movie . also and richard griffith and a lecherous sir charles sedley and give a stellar performance . ben chaplin and a the duke of buckingham and reveal the ambiguity of the men that be attract to those early thespian . thoroughly enjoyable because of richard eyre direction and eye for detail .