Giles Woodforde enjoys a vital Goldsmith classic arriving in Oxford

‘My life has been chiefly spent in a college or an inn, in seclusion from that lovely part of the creation that chiefly teach men confidence,” laments young Marlow in Oliver Goldsmith’s She Stoops to Conquer. He continues: “I don’t know that I was ever familiarly acquainted with a single modest woman — except my mother.” All that is about to change, however, for an arranged marriage is scheduled: Marlow will marry Kate, daughter of wealthy countryman Mr Hardcastle.

All does not go to plan, needless to say, for She Stoops is one of the best, and silliest, comedies written in English. Marlow arrives at the Hardcastle home, but assumes it is the local pub, with Mr Hardcastle the landlord, and Kate the serving wench. Multiple misunderstandings ensue. The play is suited to the robust acting style of Northern Broadsides company, whose new production of She Stoops reaches the Playhouse this week. Mr Hardcastle (Howard Chadwick, with a splendidly rumbling, gruff voice) is, naturally, a northern landowner, and his redoubtable wife (Gilly Tompkins, resplendent in an exuberant ginger wig) put me in mind of newsagent Rita in Coronation Street.

Marlow is played by Oliver Gomm, an alumnus of King Alfred’s, Wantage — making his professional Oxford debut. Gomm has the useful ability to curl himself up into a tight ball, squirming with embarrassment on meeting Kate Hardcastle. He grows bolder, however — after all, he is only dealing with a serving wench. Then he convincingly falls for Kate good and proper, no longer worrying about the class barrier, or the opprobrium from friends and family if the relationship were to become more permanent — this is the point at which Goldsmith delivers sharp comment on 18th century social conventions. Gomm is excellent in the role, but faces one snag: Hannah Edwards’s Kate may have a determined personality, but she radiates little sexual chemistry. So it’s difficult to see why Marlow should be quite so keen on her — perhaps he wants to be dominated. Meanwhile, Jon Trenchard has a ball as Mr Hardcastle’s happy-go-lucky stepson Tony Lumpkin, who is not interested in marriage to any girl.

Directed by Conrad Nelson, the production bowls along at a cracking pace. It’s greatly enhanced by Rebekah Hughes’s cheeky score — her send-up of Mozart’s Magic Flute is especially memorable.

She Stoops to Conquer
Oxford Playhouse
Until Saturday
01865 305 305 or oxfordplayhouse.com