She Stoops to Conquer, by Oliver Goldsmith; directed by Neil Thackaberry; costumes by Maryjo Alexander at Actors' Summit

Hudson production Stoops' to new highs The Plain Dealer, Tony Brown, Theater Critic, Thursday, April 07, 2005

Inventors of the 18th century gave us the modern republic, the guillotine, the flush toilet and the dictionary. But perhaps the tastiest Age of Enlightenment invention of all is Oliver Goldsmith's "She Stoops to Conquer."

An Irish gambling addict who became a hack writer in London to support his habit, Goldsmith set out in 1773 to better his times' banal dramatic literature.

"She Stoops," a frothy, aside-filled laughfest about youthful romance and household intrigue, remains one of the truly great comic confections of all time, as is amply demonstrated at Actors' Summit in Hudson. It led off a busy weekend at smaller professional venues in the Cleveland area, where three shows opened since Friday.

Staged with zesty eyebrow-waggling by director Neil Thackaberry, this handsome, carefully paced production musters enough charm and wit to pass, at long stretches, for a major regional-theater production.

This largely is because of the frilly costumes by MaryJo Alexander (Thackaberry's wife) and an equally rich embroidered comic performance by Wayne Turney as pompous Hardcastle.
Linda Ryan (wearing a toy ship on her head) presents the picture of decrepit rusticity as Mrs. Hardcastle, Peter Voinovich rolls around as a lumpy Tony Lumpkin, and Constance Thackaberry (the director's daughter) moons about as a busty, saucy Kate. Alicia Kahn has a toothy, goofy time as ingenue Constance.

There's only one major caveat to spoil the otherwise gossamer good time: the accents. Thackaberry wisely has the aristocratic characters speak with American accents refined enough to sound right but errs in giving the servants Southern twangs. In addition to being contrived, the actors don't do any better with Dixieland drawls than they might have with cockney.

But you'll hardly notice if you stay focused on the dazzling costumes, the sonorous Turney (in a fat suit) and Goldsmith's light-as-air cotton candy for the stage.

Through Sunday, April 17, at 86 Owen Brown St., Hudson. Tickets are $18 to $25. Call 330-342-0800.

--THE TIMES NEWSPAPERS-- Lorain County Times--Westlaker Times--Lakewood News
Times--Olmsted-Fairview Times
Roy Berko
(Member, American Theatre Critics Association)

Oliver Goldsmith, the author of 'SHE STOOPS TO CONQUER, now on stage at Actors' Summit, was born in Ireland in 1728, but lived most of his life in England. Interestingly, if he had not literally missed a boat, he might have turned out to be an important American writer. Missing boats, changing fields of study (law to medicine to sailing) and a talent for drinking and gambling, led him to the come up with ways to make money. He started writing about the people around him, mainly families he could laugh at for their "gentility." His style caught on. Probably his best known work is 'SHE STOOPS TO CONQUER' also known as 'THE MISTAKES OF A NIGHT OF COMEDY.'

SHE STOOPS TO CONQUER opened in London on March 15, 1773. It is in the tradition of other humorous attacks on the British such as 'THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING EARNEST.' It satirizes the English with good humor. This is not a malicious satire but a good-natured one.

The story centers on the HARDCASTLE family. Mr.Hardcastle is a wealthy country man whose second wife is quite determined that her spoiled and not too bright son, Tony Lumpkin, marry her niece, Constance Neville. In this way she will be able to keep the young woman's fortune. The young people, however, have other plans, especially Miss Neville who is secretly pledged to a handsome youth named Hastings.

Mr. Hardcastle has plans for his own charming daughter, Kate, to marry the son of his old friend,
Sir Charles Marlow. Unfortunately young Marlow, though otherwise dynamic and a rogue with women, gets tongue-tied in the presence of ladies of his own social status.

So the scene is set for a series of mistaken identities, hoaxes, betrayals, and humor.

As often happens with English farce, most of the first act is exposition and is not nearly as clever as the second, which centers on the intertwining love stories and makes the fairly long evening an enjoyable sit.

The Actors' Summit production is blessed with the wonderful, whimsical, flubbering Wayne Turney. Watching him weave his acting magic as Mr. Hardcastle is worth the price of admission. The multi-Times Tribute Acting Award winning Turney does what Turney always does...win the audience by developing a characterization that perfectly fits the character. His tirade in Act II, Scene I should be a must see for all aspiring acting students.

Also strong is Linda Ryan as Mrs. Hardcastle. The rest of cast is credible though not up to Turney or Ryan. At times some of them try too hard for exaggeration and forget that the most effective farce is often underplay, not overplay.

Director A. Neil Thackaberry has wisely decided not to use English accents, which many American actors have difficulty making real and consistent. His decision to use southern accents to indicate the lower classes is somewhat questionable, however.

Because of the physical format of the stage it might have been wise to have gone with a total fragmentary set rather than try to create the home, pub and garden. As is, the settings were not clearly differentiated.

Mary Jo Alexander's costumes are wonderful. The detailing on the ornate clothing aided greatly in
setting the correct tone.

CAPSULE JUDGEMENT: Actor's Summit's 'SHE STOOPS TO CONQUER' is a nice small theatre production of Oliver Goldsmith's delightful play. Go, if for no other reason, than to see Wayne Turney spin his humorous magic.