SHE STOOPS TO CONQUER

 

By Oliver Goldsmith

 

Performed at Mottisfont Abbey on 21st to 28th July, 1984

 

 

Cast

Mrs Hardcastle

Mollie Manns

Mr Hardcastle

David Pike

Tony Lumpkin

Mr Brian Stansbridge

Kate Hardcastle

Carol Clark

Landlord

Ralph Coombs

Constance Neville

Angela Stansbridge

Marlow

James Smith

Hastings

James Oliver

Diggory

Kenneth Spencer

Roger

Becket Pennington-Legh

Pimple

Enid Clark

Sir Charles Marlo

Peter Neve

Servants, Fellows, Drunkards, Etc.

Peter White, Derek Sealy, Harry Manns, Graham Buchanan

 

 

 

For the Maskers

Directed by

Philippa Taylor

Assistant Director

Lynda Edwards

Technical Director

Ron Tiiiyer

Stage Manager

Kenneth Spencer

Assistant Stage Manager

Imogen Hobbs

Lighting

Clive Weeks

Assisted by

Lawrie Gee, Alan Rolfe, Alan Clark, Pete Scrutton

Sound

Angela Barks

Properties Mistress

Sonia Morris

Assisted by

Sarah Willis

Wardrobe Mistresses

Christine Baker, Lillian Gunstone

Publicity

Michael Patterson

Business Management

Graham Buchanan

Pantry Mistress

Meri Lawther

Assisted by

Sue Robinson Julia Patterson

Cellarmaster & Mistress

Ann & Becket Pennington-Legh

Car Parking

David Pankhurst

Box Office

Sylvia Pankhurst

 

Oliver Goldsmith

 

Oliver Goldsmith was born in Pallas, Ireland, but was of English extraction. He was the son of a farmer and clergyman who, like the toads and snakes, did not thrive in that country. The elder Mr Goldsmith’s income was scarce sufficient to allow the young Oliver a basic education and it was only through the beneficence of his wealthier relations that he was able to attend Trinity College, in the City of Dublin, where he was granted his degree. As evidence of his hunger for education (or at least

his hunger), we are told that Master Goldsmith took the most menial of employments, whilst at Trinity,

to supplement his income and continue his studies. Subsequently, Mister Goldsmith travelled to Edinburgh where he spent two years studying medicine, and then set off to travel Europe for nearly six years. Some might suggest that six months spent travelling Europe shows a healthy interest in Geography, whilst six years is the sign of a wastrel. Mr Goldsmith was not idle during his European sojourn, however. Apart from the likelihood that the young artist was first touched by the Muse in Vienna or Rome, it was during this period that he obtained his doctorate (The management wish to repudiate the suggestion made by Dr Goldsmith’s jealous enemies, that he never obtained a doctorate at all).

 

On returning to these shores, Dr Goldsmith practised his knowledge of healing, for a short while, as a humble apothecary’s assistant, but later found employment with a firm of booksellers who, it must be said, failed to appreciate his talents.

 

Dr Goldsmith’s literary acheivements include his famed novel, The Vicar of Wakefield. and his

other plays are The Good Natured Man and The Grumbler. neither of which, alas, have enjoyed great acclaim.

Amongst his famous friends and associates is Dr Samuel Johnson, to whom tonight’s play was dedicated.