Oliver Goldsmith's masterpiece She Stoops to Conquer, directed by Patrick Mason, runs at the Abbey from July 29th to September 6th.
She Stoops to Conquer, subtitled The Mistakes of a Night, tells of the errors and deceptions around young gentleman's seduction. A comedy of errors, it derives its humour not from moral ideals or failings as was the custom in the sentimental plays of the time, but from the inherently human mistakes and weaknesses of its characters. She Stoops... offers a wide array of characters, all flawed but none tragically.
In a letter of introduction for the play, addressed to Samuel Johnson, Goldsmith wrote “The undertaking of a comedy not merely sentimental was very dangerous.” With full knowledge he proceeded all the same, confident the public would vindicate him. And they did. They have continued to do so again and again through the 230 years since.
Director Patrick Mason was Artistic Director of the Abbey from 1994 to 1999, and under his stewardship the National Theatre knew a period of growth and stability. Upon undertaking the position, he published a 'manifesto' titled A High Ambition, promising to remain true to the ideals of the theatre's founders, W. B. Yeats and Lady Gregory. This included a return to a strong, dramatic, text-based theatre.
The degree of his success, vis-à-vis the theatre itself or his manifesto is of little concern here, but it does suggest that a character-based and text-driven play such as She Stoops to Conquer would be very much within his field.
His first theatre production since leaving the Abbey, last year's premiere of Frank McGuinness's Gates of Gold at the Gate Theatre, was generally very well received; the media and political pressure of the Abbey office removed, he is free once again to do what he loves and does best: theatre.
Written by: Oliver Goldsmith
Directed by: Patrick Mason
Cast: Justine Mitchell, Aaron Monaghan, Des Cave, Anita Reeves, Patrick Moy, Emily Nagle, Clive Geraghty, Derry Power, Phelim Drew, Keith Dunphy, Janet Moran, Domnhnall Gleeson, Louis Lovett, Richard Hayes, Gavin McCaffrey.
Time: 8.00 pm
Tickets: €15 - €30
Abbey Theatre
26 Lower Abbey Street,
Dublin 1.
Tel.: 878 7222
