Breeches roles — women disguised as men — were meant to show off their womanly figures, especially their chests and legs (Howe 56). A plot device related to the breeches part was the reveal of the true female character. For example, Elizabeth Howe discusses a production of The Rival Ladies in which two female characters tear open their blouses to reveal their true sex during a battle scene (56). This type of reveal was meant to cater to the male gaze and exploited the bodies of women. These roles were very popular with audiences, as 89 of 375 plays on the London stage included a cross-dressing role for women (57). Some plays, such as Killigrew’s The Parson’s Wedding, Dryden’s Secret Love and Beaumont and Fletcher’s Philaster, used this trend for their advantage by having an all-female cast (57-58). This practice provided extra work for women, but it reduced them to their bodies; additionally, parts were taken from male performers in the process.
“An Actress at Her Toilet” or “Miss Brazen Just Breecht”
To see a woman flirtatiously recite her breeches role lines, see section 6 of this video, though the whole film is very informative. Disclaimer- some sections contain nudity:
Actresses During the Restoration Period 