She Stoops to Conquer (original 1771; edition 1771)

I had to check the dictionary more often compared to when reading regular books. And sometimes, the dictionary doesn't even contain the words from this 1700's comedy! Other than that, it was pretty funny. I bet that it's more hilarious when performed. (Got to check out if there's some on YouTube.) ( )

We could all learn a lesson from Tony Lumpkin: life needs more tricks! Let's not dress it up, this is a romp, and one that takes a certain amount of charm from its enlightenment brittleness--the previous ages would not have dwelled so long on the reversal of social roles--but also from its enlinghtenment sap--the Victorians wouldn't have given themselves over to the bawdy good times. The Enlightenment! It was a well-balanced era! ( )

Oliver Goldsmith's late-18th century play is a lovely play. I've been reading experimental dramas and I found the comfort of very traditional dramatic elements such a pleasure.

The plot revolves around a country gentleman, his wife, and two children, who are to be visited by a young man considered as a suitable match for the young lady of the family. It eventuates that the young gentleman can speak easily to men and to women who are married or of a different social strata, but to young Kate Hardcastle he can speak barely a word, and those few words are stammering.

In the glorious manner of Shakespeare's comedies, disguises ensue, as do various deceits, conversations behind screens where others can overhear and comment, and numerous asides and slapstick moments fill the pages. It is a lovely play and warmed the cockles of my heart. ( )

This play was first performed in 1773 and has been often performed since. I decided one should see it rather than read it. I found it hard to follow on a perhaps too cursory reading, and drew little entertainment from it. ( )

Goldsmith's aim was to knock the popular sentimental comedy off the stage and replace it with what he called "laughing comedy"--and he did it resoundingly with [She Stoops to Conquer]. The play features a cast of characters who, though flawed, are all likeable and human. Old-fashioned Mr. Hardcastle loves the simple country life, but his wife and daughter long for London. To appease him, daughter Kate has agreed to wear a plain housedress in the evenings if he will allow her to wear the latest fashions during the day. Hardcastle announces that the man he has chosen for Kate's husband is on his way to visit. Marlow sounds like the man of her dreams--rich, generous, well respected, young, and handsome--but he has one flaw that she can't abide: he gets tongue-tied and "reserved" in the company of respectable ladies of his class.

Along the way, Goldsmith delights us with the antics of Kate's half-brother, the oafish and prank-loving Tony Lumpkin (who turns out to be a lot smarter than he seems) and a second pair of lovers, Marlowe's friend Hastings and Constance Neville, Mrs. Hardcastle's niece and ward. Not to mention a whole crew of hilarious servants!

This has been on e of the most popular plays in the English language since its debut in 1773, and it's easy to understand just why. ( )