Playhouse Creatures at The Factory Theatre

In this fact-based comedy-drama set in 1663, women are finally being allowed to play themselves on stage after years of Puritan repression, only to find themselves facing all-too-timeless issues of ageism and sexism. April De Angelis' backstage play turns the spotlight onto five of the most famous of these real-life actresses, starting with the once-fetching Mary Betterton, who's losing her looks and leading roles to younger women. Then there's the ambitious ingenue Nell Gwyn, who's expected to become a plaything for the nobility while being gawked at as a novelty by male audiences. The female-focused Maiden Phoenix Theatre Company stages this Boston production of Playhouse Creatures.