Compleat Female Stage Beauty

by Jeffrey Hatcher

Directed by Ron Jones

Feb 12th – Feb 28th, 2009

Thursday - Saturday, 8pm

Monday Performances 2/16 & 2/23

Midtown Arts Center

3414 LaBranch St

Houston, TX 77004

Cast & Crew

Kynaston .....  Chris Rivera

Margaret ..... Christie Guidry Stryk

Nell ..... Sara Jo Dunston

Villiars..... Steve Bullitt

Miss Frayne..... Ellen Dyer

Lady Meresvale..... Susan Draper

Charles Sedley..... Stephen Myers

Charles II..... Marion Kirby

Hyde... Mark Carrier

Maria,.... Liz Cascio

Betterton..... Jaime Geiger

Pepys..... Timothy Evers

Ensemble...  Blair Ault

Ensemble...  Elizabeth Seabolt

Ensemble...  Nathan Suurmeyer

Ensemble...  Andy Crum

Ensemble...  Bobby Haworth

Directed by Ron Jones

Stage Managed by Carole Kelly

Asst Stage Managed by Mia Migliaccio

Costumes by Kelly Robertson

Set Design by Jodi Bobrovsky

Light Design by John Wind

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Mildred’s Umbrella Theatre Company presents the Houston premiere of Jeffrey Hatcher’s, Compleat Female Stage Beauty, February 12- 28, 2009 at Midtown Arts Center. The production will be directed by Houston theatre veteran, Ron Jones.

It is 1661, and the most famous portrayer of female roles on the London stage is Ned Kynaston.  Like every other actor of this time, Kynaston is a man. A celebrity artist shining bright at the crest of the Restoration, Kynaston is applauded onstage and off for his interpretations of Shakespeare's ladies, especially his Desdemona and his famous "death scene." He's the toast of the town and the very secret "mistress" of the powerful Duke of Buckingham, until King Charles, (at the prompting of his courtesan, Nell Gwynn) decides to change the law, allowing women to act,and making it illegal for men to play female roles on stage. Kynaston's world is shattered. He loses his livelihood, his lover and his sense of self. As the women become stars, Kynaston’s own light disappears until fate and his desire for revenge give him a chance to take the stage again.

“A clever exploration of rich territory, the world of the English theater at the seventeenth-century moment when women were first allowed on the stage." - New York Times.

"Lush…world class…clever…" - Variety.

"An intimate psycho-sexual backstage historical comedy. Splendidly theatrical, it's a witty allusive game with some feeling payoff, to boot." - Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.

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" The direction by Jones is confident and perfectly paced to miss not a laugh while delving into the story's internal pathos...like so much that Mildred's Umbrella does, they are quite well engaged making magic." -- Arts Houston

"... enjoyably game rendition by Mildred's Umbrella Theatre Company."   -- Houston Chronicle

"... standout performances... the play pulls you in..."   -- Dancehunter