A classic
comedy of manners, Goldsmith’s She Stoops to Conquer has played audiences for
over two centuries. The play is a boisterous tale about two young ‘blades’ ,
Charles Marlow and George Hastings and their attempts to woo Kate Hardcastle and her friend Constance
Neville.
However, as
one would expect from a comedy it’s never going to be that easy if the two
pending marriages are to conclude happily. What follows is what one would
expect: an evening of devious plot twists, dissembling, comedy, and confusion.
It keeps its 18th century setting yet brings naturalism and artifice to the
stage. A nodding wink there, an aside there contributes to the fun.
Moreover, if
it all gets too much, the programme has a synopsis for the faint hearted. The company
were in fine form and although at times I found Hastings and Marlow wearying,
it was not the case with the parents of Kate Hardcastle.
In Katherine Senior’s Mrs Hardcastle, we had a
vain and seemingly corrupt social climber bored by the country. In contrast, her
husband, Mr Hardcastle (David Summer) who has matrimonial plans for his
daughter is content in his rural ways. Although incensed by the behaviour of
the two young men who mistake him for an innkeeper he holds it together amongst
this gallery of misfits and caricatures.
Joe Bateman
as the schemer, and not so dumb, Lumpkin provided the bawdy in response to the
supposedly genteel household.
The set was
simple and innovative and suiting the play and Creative Cow’s stated aims, to
be simple, direct, and entertaining. They pride themselves on being able to
present their work anywhere, adapting to ‘any space’. The set on this occasion
consisted of four large gold picture frames, along with some minimal furniture.
It subtly complemented the action, never distracting from the fertile language.
Sadly, if I
had to find fault I would point out that it appears to be a rather lengthy
production. Mistaken identities etc. can only be theatrically rewarding for so
long. However, we are not looking through eighteenth eyes and it could the case
that we overlook the finer subtleties and nuances of the play and only witness
the farcical elements.Despite
these reservations, it was still a rewarding and pleasing performance and a
credit to the company.
This review first appeared in the Newbury Weekly News.
