"She Stoops to Conquer" by Oliver Goldsmith

Lace Market Theatre

The latest season at the Lace Market Theatre closes with a belter of a play and an absolute classic and one of the few plays from the 18th Century to still be performed.

I read this play just a few months ago and found it, in play form humorous. On stage, the wonderful script just explodes into life.

Our hero, Marlow, mistakes a private house for an inn, thanks to the mischievous Tony Lumpkins. He also mistakes the woman he is supposed to be wooing for a barmaid, and his future father-in-law for the landlord, and this raises all kinds of questions about class and snobbery. Confusion and comedy are the results which also results in a lovely journey of self realisation for more than one of these characters.

David Dunford (Mr Hardcastle) straight away makes a big impact with his wig. Hardcastle is just one of a group of characters who are comedic without being overtly funny, but his reactions and asides are what makes this character joyful to watch.

Cynthia Marsh (Mrs Hardcastle) really brings the comedy of this character alive and the physicality of Mrs Hardcastle is just one more reason to see this play, and I loved her script, delivered with, at times, an almost tongue in cheek delivery.

Ellie Searston (Miss Kate Hardcastle) was just an incredibly good watch. Everything from the looks breaking the fourth wall to her giggles and her dual role as the "barmaid" and the "woo-ee" for Marlow with the change in accents as part of the deceit. A brilliant role for any woman to play which showed off Ellie's lovely comic side.

Charlie Bailey (Miss Constance Neville) was a wonderful pairing with Ellie for this girlie pair. Another lovely and believable coupling of friends, who, if in another century, would be the sort to have sleep overs and watch "Grease" on repeat.

Bertie Black (Tony Lumpkin) is like the naughtiest school boy you can imagine and reminiscent of Dennis the Menace. Excitable with a wicked sense of humour who relishes the situations when his plans come together. I imagine Bertie is having great fun playing Tony, because we were having fun watching him.

Steve Mitchell (Charles Marlow) delivered a classy but haughty performance as the man who was comfortable chatting up ladies below his class stature but floundered when in the presence of his own class. A wonderful vision of embarrassment in Act Two as the whole deception became apparent. His soft spoken approach with this character really suited the part.

Paul Spruce (George Hastings) is an actor I don't think I have seen before gave a very confident performance and a very comfortable relationship with Marlow; the sort of lads around town, best buddy type of 18th Century mate.

Bob Wildgust (Sir Charles Marlow) makes an appearance in Act Two as young Marlow's father.

Linda Croston also made an appearance as Kate's servant, Pimple.

Glenn Murphy (Landlord Diggory) and the Servants, Maids and Drinking Companions are played Anne Mccarroll, Molly Wright, David Watts and Arnd Korn opened the scene with a raucous bar scene which set the tone for fun throughout

Directed by Marcus Wakely he made sure that the pace was kept sharp at no time was there an empty stage, and this really made this play fly by. The comedy was wonderfully out there, Marcus making sure that the actors delivered in such a way that it would be impossible to miss any of Goldsmith's wonderfully comic script. This is a play that was written to break the fourth wall and with the actors making entrances from everywhere, he made sure that the whole of the theatre was used to expand the stage.

The set was designed by Milly White and it really gave you an insight into the lifestyle of Goldsmith's era. Lush furniture and furnishings and a reflection of the well to do lives these characters led.

Brilliant wardrobe and wigs by Max Bromley and the LMT Wardrobe department.

This season at the Lace Market has been varied and wonderful and this was a fine way to close the season. It was also lovely to see, as in most productions this season, a practically full first night, and I have every expectation that the rest of the week will be just as packed, because it really deserves to be.

A wonderfully talented cast and a wonderfully written piece of comedy theatre, and when you get those two spot on, then you have theatre magic, and that I can bear witness to!

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