THE CRIMSON PLAYGOER

"She Stoops to Conquer", the offering at the Copley for the remainder of the holiday season, is one of those standard pieces which bid fair to be revived as long as we continue to have the theatre (and a long time may it be!). Founded on one of the great comedy situations which have delighted mankind since the beginning of the world--mistaken identities--Goldsmith's old story of the heiress who wins, as a barmaid, the love of a youth too bashful to court her in her proper surroundings possesses a curious perennial freshness. Granted that some of the stage devices seem a bit clumsy and outworn to the present generation of theatre-goers, the underlying humor of the play has as wide an appeal today as it did in the reign of George the Second. It is this fact, together with its characterization and wittiness of line, which has kept "She Stoops to Conquer" on the boards for a hundred and forty years.

The present production is in general up to the level of its other revivals at the hands of the Jewett Company; in some respects it is better, and in a few instances distinctly worse. The parts are on the whole effectively cast--"Kate" was well played by Miss Willard, while Mr. Clive, Mr. Kingsford and Mr. Joy took their old parts with their usual skill. Miss Standing as "Constance Neville" had a hard role and was not always quite at ease in it.

In view of the prevalent tendency to farce these old plays wherever possible it was pleasing to find that Mr. Jewett had to some little extent got away from the beaten path and induced his actors to play the piece as high comedy, where for the most part it properly belongs. The third act, where Kate "stoops to conquer" was rendered with a most commendable grace and sureness. Percy Foster's "Mr. Hardcastle" was quite free from extravagance; "Tony Lumpkin" (Mr. Clive) and even boisterous "Diggory" (Mr. Johnston) were toned down to the proper key. "Mrs. Hardcastle" was exceptionally well played by Miss Esden. Unfortunately the performance was a long time reaching this level, and some of the earlier scenes were--sad to say--badly over-played. In contrast to the former productions, the bit where the two travelers drain the pot of ale dry in spite of the efforts of their supposed host to get a swallow himself, was rendered purely for its farce values, and the very rich comedy in it wholly neglected. Above all, the incident where "Diggory" delivers a letter stuck in a broom by way of a salver is palpably out of place. Also the numerous soliloquies, despite their difficulty, might have been given, with more skill. Once started, however, the play runs well, and mounts steadily from the beginning to a very creditable height in the third act and thereafter.