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Review: Allison Browning
CURTAIN University's adaptation of She Stoops to Conquer
illustrates the 'old stuff' can still bring an audience down in
tears of laughter.
This, it would seem, is primarily due to the creativity of its
performers and director, Donald Pulford.
She Stoops to Conquer follows the journey of Squire Hardcastle
and his desire to find his daughter, Kate, a husband.
While he wants a polite, refined gent, her taste is a little
more 'rough and ready'.
The Squire hopes Kate will marry Marlow, the son of his good
friend, and has arranged for him to visit.
Marlow, with side-kick, Hastings, in tow, stumble across a pub
to confirm directions (although they look more like they want
to bunk down together for the night).
Kate's boisterous brother, Tony, is drinking with the boys, and
Tony, in prankster fashion, convinces the two (very 'camp' looking)
gents that they are, in fact, lost and should spend the night
at the local 'inn'.
He directs them to the Hardcastle house, which he highly recommends,
but explains the behaviour of the owner may be a little odd.
Squire Hardcastle, believing that these men are friends of his
son's, is rather 'pissed off' at their presumptuous behaviour,
demanding menus and such.
Eventually, he is introduced to Kate, who he believes is stopping
at the inn this evening, he stumbles over words and retreats.
But this all changes when Kate suspects he may be a little bolder
if she disguises herself as the maidservant (adopting a confusing
American accent for the 'disguise').
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Taking a bold approach with a mish-mash of costuming choices,
the show has succeeded in creating a cocktail of characters that
are still relevant to a modern audience.
With characters ranging from the down to earth, Squire Hardcastle,
dressed in relaxed rural farming gear, to Marlow, clad in a semi-period,
semi-'Pride Parade' extravagant get up, extreme contrasts were
made.
This element was at times confusing, as we were unsure if the
devious Tony was a rascal farmer's boy, or Aussie bogan, although
this could have been clarified with stronger character choices.
Squire Hardcastle, played by Tony Nicholls, led a strong cast,
and was supported by Sam Young, playing his wife, who burst in
with amazing energy.
Aside from the leading duo, striking performances came more from
the supporting characters of Constance (Zoe Cooper), the landlord
(Josh Price) and the hilarious servants secretly messing about
with sandwiches, wine and each other.
The smaller characters were played with such energy and commitment,
with cheeky little choices and background fumbling, that they
stole the show.
Marlow (Stephen Warren) and Hastings (Andrew Searle) could easily
be confused with gay lovers and were not entirely convincing as
being men 'on the prowl'.
They appeared to be more into each other than Kate and Constance,
and suffered from a lack of energy.
This was also the case for Kate (Sophie Dunham) and Tony (Jamie
McGleave) who were, at times, confusing; this put more focus on
the hilarity of the servants and much of the action was missed,
as the servants were far more watchable.
She Stoops to Conquer is full of mischief, flirtation,
and mistaken identity.
Pulford has captured these elements and done so boldly.
Even if it is a touch slow moving, and there are glitches within
it along the
way, laughs are guaranteed.
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