Oliver Goldsmith’s play of mistaken identity, audacious behavior and very rocky true love, is brought to vibrant life by a cast of excellent performers, in a setting of a 17th century manor house with environs that add color and texture to the whole production.
What many may remember as a boring play read in senior high English class is revealed to be hilariously funny and highly entertaining when seen in this clever adaptation that adheres strongly to Oliver Goldsmith’s original witty text.
Mr. Hardcastle (Ian Redford) an aging gentleman has invited the son of an old friend to journey from town to his country estate. Mr. H. has the idea of a courtship and marriage between the eligible Mr. Charles Marlowe (Mark Dexter) and Kate (Susannah Fielding), Mr. Hardcastle’s beautiful, witty, and well-bred daughter.
Mr. Marlowe has never met Mr. Hardcastle, nor Kate, and is traveling in the company of his friend Mr. Hastings (Joseph Thompson), whose design in coming is to see the love of his life Constance (Holly Gilbert), Mrs. Hardcastle’s niece.
Mrs. Hardcastle (Polly Hemingway) has a son Tony (Miles Jupp) by her first marriage, and she has high hopes of his marrying Constance. Tony would rather drink and joke and sing at the pub with his friends, than trouble himself to be serious about anything.
When Marlow and Hastings stop at the pub for directions to Mr. Hardcastle’s home, Tony decides to play a joke on everyone and sends them directly there, but with the impression that it is an Inn, with an eccentric host.
Mr. Hastings soon sees Constance, and learns the truth of where they are, but has the idea that to allow Mr. Marlowe to continue thinking that he is dealing with innkeepers and barmaids is not a bad thing. Mr. Marlowe has wealth, position, education and good looks, but he has a serious flaw.
With barmaids and other women not of his social class, he is flirty and teasing, good humored and obliging. Whenever he meets an eligible gentlewoman, he becomes a clumsy buffoon, unable to converse or show his true personality. Kate is let in on the secret, and agrees to pretend to be a barmaid, and the fun escalates.
She Stoops to Conquer is presented on two discs containing five episodes. It is in widescreen format and has a running time of over 145 minutes. As a bonus feature, a 50 minute film “A Gooseberry Fool: Oliver Goldsmith’s She Stoops to Conquer” is included.
This documentary chronicles the life of Oliver Goldsmith, examines his various writings and pays particular attention to his humor and how it translates to modern audiences.
With beautiful scenery, flawless costuming and musical score, along with performers who have the rhythm and command of 18th century dialog, paired with the right sense of comedic timing, She Stoops to Conquer is a completely pleasurable entertainment.
She Stoops to Conquer is now available at Amazon and AmazonUK . Visit the DVD database for more information.
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