She Stoops to Conquer

Play

Writers: Oliver Goldsmith

Overview

Show Information

Category
Play
Number of Acts
5
First Produced
1773
Genres
Comedy, Parody, Satire
Settings
Period, Multiple Settings
Time & Place
england, 1770s
Cast Size
medium
Licensor
None/royalty-free
Ideal for
College/University, Professional Theatre, Regional Theatre
Casting Notes
Mostly male cast
Includes adult, young adult, mature adult characters

Synopsis

One of the eighteenth-century’s most enduring comedies, She Stoops to Conquer takes a comedic, often farcical, look at the behavior and marital expectations of the upper classes in England at this time. The play centers around the desire of Hardcastle, a wealthy landowner in the country, for his daughter Kate to marry the well-educated Charles Marlow. Together with Marlow’s father, Sir Charles, they arrange for the younger Marlow to visit the Hardcastle’s house and court Kate. However Kate is less than impressed when she finds out that Charles is extremely shy and reserved around ladies, despite his otherwise strong and respectable character. She therefore vows to herself that she could never marry him. Before Charles and his friend, George Hastings, can arrive at the house, they are waylaid by Mr. Hardcastle’s stepson at the local alehouse. A mischievous joker, Tony Lumpkin persuades them that the Hardcastle’s house is, in fact, the local inn. Thus, when Marlow and Hastings arrive, Marlow treats the Hardcastle family with impudence and disrespect, falsely believing them to be servants there. In order to get to the bottom of his true character, Kate disguises herself as a maid and comedy ensues as Marlow makes love to the “maid” and disregards her father.

Meanwhile, George Hastings is thrilled to find his true love, Constance Neville, living at the Hardcastle’s house. Through the scheming of Mrs. Hardcastle, she is due to marry Tony, even though they can't stand each other. Realizing that this is his opportunity to get out of the marriage, Tony helps Constance to retrieve her inheritance and gets his mother out of the way by dumping her in a local horsepond! Finally, as Marlow’s father arrives, all is put right and Charles Marlow is mortified by his behavior. Forgiven by all, the two couples find happiness with each other, and Tony successfully gains his rightful inheritance without an unwanted engagement.

Lead Characters


She Stoops to Conquer guide sections