this be a story of conflict . and to handle conflict it seem the more objective we be the good we be able to handle conflict and take decisive action . in view this film and start look for the conflict in the very first scene . you will see the re action of one actor who doesn not like the final scene of the play within the film that form this story . then note the conflict between the dresser ( claire dane or maria ) and the young woman who go back stage to flirt with the lead actor ( billy crudup or ned kynaston ) and see how this conflict build to the full conflict between maria and ned . and where else do we find well conflict between a male and a female . this story prove even more compelling because it be between a female and a male who impersonate a female on stage . maria challenge seem to be to change the societal norm of not allow female actor on stage . but this be just the face value . for she come to see her real challenge be that she can not relate to ned even though she love him very much . for ned and his challenge be that he think he know the female well than most male . what a farce that turn out to be . a ned self image crumbles and he do eventually realize that it be he who must change . he find his redemption by work with maria and take action that change both of them . don not miss the fine performance of the king mistress ( alice eve or miss frayne ) who know exactly why and how she get to where she now happen to be in the king court . but she doesn not let that deter her from see what need to be change . a a minor character and she be very funny and and by be detach and objective and she play a significant role in the unfolding of the plot for this drama .