The University of Mary Washington’s Department of Theatre and Dance will close the 2007-2008 season with the production “She Stoops to Conquer” by Oliver Goldsmith.
Performances will be held Thursday, April 3 through Saturday, April 5 and Thursday, April 10 through Saturday, April 12 at 8 p.m. Two Sunday matinee performances will be held on April 6 and 13 at 2 p.m. Tickets are $10 for general admission and $8 for students and senior citizens.
The play tells the story of Charles Marlow, a wealthy young man forced into an arranged marriage. Because of his shyness around women of his class, he fears meeting his betrothed. However, he is at ease with lower class women. When a prank causes Marlow to arrive at a countryside inn, the potential bride pretends to be a barmaid in order to get closer to him. Before long, chaos ensues.
Goldsmith was an Anglo-Irish poet, writer and physician. His most famous comedy, “She Stoops to Conquer,” was inspired and written about an incident from his youth. The play was first produced in London in 1773 and still is widely performed today.
“She Stoops to Conquer” is part of the UMW Centennial Celebration. One of the most often revived plays at the university, the play also has been performed in 1928, 1964 and 1986.
“She Stoops to Conquer” is directed by Helen Housley, assistant professor of theatre. Costume design is by Kevin McCluskey, associate professor of theatre; set design is by David Hunt, professor of theatre; and lighting design is by David Ryan Spry, a UMW senior theatre major. For more information, call the Klein Theatre Box Office at (540) 654-1124.