NT Live: She Stoops to Conquer

Feb 13, 2012 No Comments by Chuck

SHE STOOPS TO CONQUER

Thursday, 29 March, 2012 at 6:00

Running Time: 3 hours (estimate) including host introduction and one 20 minute intermission (10 minutes of programming; 10 minutes of countdown clock)

By Oliver Goldsmith

To come to my house, to call for what he likes, toturn me out of my own chair, to insult the family, to order his servants to get drunk, and then to tell me, “This house is mine, sir”. By all that’s impudent it makes me laugh.

Hardcastle, a man of substance, looks forward to acquainting his daughter with his old pal’s son with a view to marriage. But thanks to playboy Lumpkin, he’s mistaken by his prospective son-in-law Marlow for an innkeeper, his daughter for the local barmaid. The good news is, while Marlow can barely speak to a woman of quality he’s a charmer with those of a different stamp. And so, as Hardcastle’s indignation intensifies, Miss Hardcastle’s appreciation for her misguided suitor soars. Misdemeanours multiply, love blossoms, mayhem ensues.

This little barmaid though runs in my head most strangely, and drives out the absurdities of all therest of the family. She’s mine, she must be mine, or I’m greatly mistaken.

One of the great, generous-hearted and ingenious comedies of the English language, Goldsmith’s She Stoops to Conquer offers a celebration of chaos, courtship and the dysfunctional family.

Cast credits

Maid
Amy Booth-Steel

Ensemble
Stavros Demetraki

Ensemble
Terry Doe

Tony Lumpkin
David Fynn

Ensemble
Jonathan Glew

Young Marlow
Harry Hadden-Paton

Hastings
John Heffernan

Diggory/Ensemble
Oliver Jackson

Miss Neville
Cush Jumbo

Miss Hardcastle
Katherine Kelly

Ensemble
Sarah Moyle