She Stoops to Conquer

She Stoops to Conquer is a comedy by Oliver Goldsmith, the son of an Anglo-Irish vicar. First performed in London in 1773, it tells the tale of the Hardcastles, a wealthy rural family, who arrange for their daughter Kate to meet Charles Marlow, the son of a wealthy aristocrat, hoping the pair will marry. It is young Marlow's misfortune to be dumb in the presence of ladies of his own social status. He is, however, a master of clever repartee when talking to bar maids and girls of like station. Kate realises on first acquaintance with Marlow that she will have to pretend to be common, to make marital relations with the man possible. In other words she “stoops to conquer”, by posing as a barmaid. And this is just one of the plot lines. It is a rich comedy, one of the very few from 18th Century British theatre to have stood the tests of time to be still performed on a regular basis. Auditions will be held at UWA on 30 August from 10am. (Venue tba) Production Week begins 25 October. Show runs from 31 October to 14 November Characters WOMEN. MRS. HARDCASTLE Wife to Mr Hardcastle and mother to Tony; a corrupt, eccentric character. . MISS HARDCASTLE the play's stooping-to-conquer heroine MISS NEVILLE Niece of Mrs Hardcastle and the woman Hastings intends to court. MAID MEN SIR CHARLES MARLOW An old army friend of Hardcastle YOUNG MARLOW (His Son) HARDCASTLE a level-headed countryman who loves "everything old" and hates the town and the "follies" that come with it. HASTINGS A close friend of Charles Marlow and the admirer of Miss Neville. TONY LUMPKIN Son of Mrs Hardcastle's and stepson of Mr Hardcastle. A mischievous, uneducated playboy. . DIGGORY