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Regional Reviews: San Francisco Compleat Female Stage Beauty Also see Richard's reviews of Grey Gardens, Heathers and Trouble Cometh
Jeffrey Hatcher's two and half hour drama centers on Edward "Ned" Kynaston, who specialized in female roles, like Shakespeare's Juliet and most emphatically Desdemona in Othello. Samuel Pepys once called him "the loveliest lady that ever I saw in my life." Prior to Charles II's time no woman could appear on the English stage. However, after his exile in France, he decreed that women would now be allowed on the London stage. This is the beginning of the end of Kynaston, as he becomes confused about his own gender identity when forced to act like a man on stage and in life. The production employs a cast of 10 excellent actors with several filling out dual roles. All are well-developed characters, with several of the actors camping up a certain Shakespearean style humor in their performances. The love scenes are performed with great realism. Stephen McFarland is excellent playing Edward Kynaston. He skillfully walks a fine line between the actor who plays women with masterful exaggeration and the off-stage man whose life is expressively more nuanced. Elissa Beth Stebbins gives a splendid performance as Margaret Hughes, who was the first female to appear on the British stage. She has to be a damn good actress, having to play a bad actress and then expertly growing into a good actress when she plays Desdemona during the last scenes of the play. Sam Jackson gives a terrific performance and brings a discerningly perceptive presence to the role of a love that she cannot have. Matt Weimer is splendid as Charles II. He effectively blends a regal air with frat-boy charm. Jeffrey Hoffman nicely camps it up as the hissing and foppish Sir Charles Sedley. Ali Haas shines as Nell Gwynn and when she sings that aria in the first act it is really a hoot. Colleen Egan, Justin Liszanckie, Chris Morrell, and Patrick Ross all give first-rate performances. Director Ed Decker, dialect coach Patricia Reynoso, and period movement coach Jenna May Cass have all done a fine job with the cast. Costuming, especially for King Charles II and Sir Charley Sedley, by Keri Fitch is exceptional. Compleat Female Stage Beauty plays through June 14th, 2015, at the Decker Theatre, New Conservatory Theatre Center, 25 Van Ness Ave at Market, San Francisco. For tickets call 415-861-8972 or visit www.nctcsf.org.
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