West End Productions to Present Oliver Goldsmith's rollicking comedy SHE STOOPS TO CONQUER

She Stoops To Conquer is one of the crown jewels of the British theatrical repertory. (Shakespeare notwithstanding.) This classic comedy has delighted audiences around the world for almost 250 years with its mix of farce, cheek and innuendo. It can also stake a meaningful claim to being the forerunner of such diverse entertainments as the Marx Brothers, Monty Python, Jerry Seinfeld and innumerable TV family sitcoms.

Written in 1773, She Stoops To Conquer takes place at a rundown manor house in the English countryside. Mr. Hardcastle (Neil Faulconbridge) and Mrs. Hardcastle (Colleen McClure) argue over soup as they await the arrival of Charles Marlow (Tim Riley) a suitor to their daughter Kate (Jessica Osbourne). Little do they realize that before the night is over their house, their lives and all of their plans will be turned upside down, inside out, and flown up the chimney. The agent of all this mayhem is Tony Lumpkin (Tim Crofton). Tony is a world-class rascal, rogue and reprobate who delights in being the spoon that stirs the pot. At a tavern, he bumps into Marlow and his companion George Hastings (Blake Magnusson) who longs for Kate's cousin, Constance (Bridget S. Dunne), Tony directs them to the Hardcastle home, telling them it is an inn. From here, and with Tony's imaginatively diabolical prodding, mistakes mount one on top of another until it seems like the world will spin right out of its orbit.

What ensues is giddy romance, mistaken identities, wily servants, purloined gems, rapid-fire dialogue and Goldsmith's razor-sharp, tongue-planted-firmly-in-cheek observations on the deliciously delightful foibles and follies of human nature, proving that people have not changed much in the last 250 years. Rounding out this splendid cast are Albuquerque favorites, Ron Cliffton, Lev Handmaker, Jen Hargrove, and John Lopez.

She Stoops To Conquer is being presented by West End Productions as part of its inaugural season. Albuqerque's newest theater company, West End exclusively performs plays, past and present, from the United Kingdom. She Stoops To Conquer opens Friday, February 17th and plays for four weekends through Sunday, March 12th. Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30 PM and Sundays at 2:00 PM. Performances are at VSA North 4th Art Center located at 4904 4th St. NW. General admission tickets are $22 (online early ticket admission), $18 for seniors and students, $50 for a season pass for all three plays this season! Group discounts available. For more information and ticket purchases, please visit www.westendproductions.org.

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