Fridae

This dramedy is set in 1660s England where only men are allowed
appear on stage. Female parts in Shakespearean dramas are played
by men who've spent years in special schools training to behave
to like women. (A curious thing considering how many men there are
who don't require any training at all.)

Ned (Billy Crudup) is one such actor who has found renown for playing
the tragic figure of Desdemona in Othello. His sexual orientation,
after years of playing women's roles, has become ambiguous: He seems
straight-acting and is capable of being attracted to women, but
likes being screwed by men.

So when the king (Rupert Everett) decides to overturn the law by
allowing only women — such as Ned's assistant (Claire Danes)
— to perform women's role on stage, Ned finds himself out
of a job, penniless and depressed.

The performances in this film are very strong. Billy is very good
at portraying an emotionally and sexually confused man. Claire has
always demonstrated how superb she is at period dramas, since her
Romeo+Juliet days opposite Leonardo DiCaprio.

The film, though patchy, has some witty and delightful moments.