She Stoops to Conquer
“The Mistakes of the Night shall be crowned with a merry morning”
First produced in 1773, this rollicking comedy uses the familiar convention of mistaken identity to satirize the social mores of its day. Country squire Hardcastle wants to marry off his independent-minded daughter Kate to city boy Marlow, who is witty and assured with “females of another class”, but shy and bumbling in the presence of a lady. Mrs. Hardcastle is manipulating her jokester son Tony to wed Constance, an heiress who's already in love with Marlow's friend Hastings. But Tony has no interest in Constance, and plays a prank on the suitors that sets the plot in motion.
Irish-born Oliver Goldsmith's boisterous comedy She Stoops To Conquer debuted in London at a time when more sentimental plays were in vogue. It mocked the snobbery of London society (which Mrs. Hardcastle desperately wants to join) by showing how easily the city folk were manipulated by the so-called country bumpkins, and remains one of the few 18th century plays to be regularly performed. Goldsmith was born around 1730 (the year is somewhat in doubt), and studied theology and law in Dublin. He later turned to medical studies in Edinburgh, and moved to London in 1756. Constantly in debt, he churned out work as a sometimes anonymous “hack writer”. The English writer and critic Samuel Johnson, whom he met in 1761, found a publisher for Goldsmith's novel The Vicar Of Wakefield (1766), saving him from debtors' prison. The popularity of that book secured his reputation, and She Stoops To Conquer cemented it. Goldsmith died in 1774.
P J Hammond, who directs Alumnae Theatre Company's production, remarks that “Just reading this play made me laugh out loud. And even though the characters are broad, they're real; audiences today will be able to relate to them.” Assistant Director Naomi Hunter (a Morris dancer in her spare time), brings a vast knowledge of period manners and daily life to the production.
The cast of twelve includes Sarah Williamson as Kate, Daryl Taylor and Tina Kanarek as her parents, Devin Upham as her step-brother Tony, Paul Hardy as her suitor Marlow, Alan Leightizer as his friend Hastings, and Jessica Moss as the heiress Constance.
Stewart Vanderlinden's lush but lean set and Michael Spence's inventive lighting carries the audience from tavern to country house to garden. Sound designer Jo-Anne Wurster's sly period re-workings of modern songs play beautifully off Margaret Spence's bucolic costumes.
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She Stoops to Conquer Cast
| Julie Burris | Bett Bouncer, Maid |
| Paul Hardy | Marlow |
| Tina Kanarek | Mrs. Hardcastle |
| Alan Leightizer | Hastings |
| Tina McCulloch | Landlady, Servant |
| Jessica Moss | Constance Neville |
| Daryl Taylor | Mr. Hardcastle |
| John E. Turner | Sir Charles Marlow, Roger, Jeremy, Tavern Patron |
| Devin Upham | Tony Lumpkin |
| Sarah Williamson | Kate Hardcastle |
| Ajit Zacharias | Diggory |
She Stoops to Conquer Creative Team
| Producer | Jessica Katz |
| Director | P J Hammond |
| Assistant Director | Naomi Priddle Hunter |
| Stage Manager | Margot Devlin |
| Set Designer | Stewart Vanderlinden |
| Lighting Designer | Michael Spence |
| Sound Designer | Jo-Anne Wurster |
| Costume Designer | Margaret Spence |
| Props Mistress | Dorothy Wilson |
Cast Biographies
JULIE BURRIS
(Bett Bouncer; Maid)
This marks Julie's debut with the Alumnae Theatre Company, and she is delighted to be part of this production. She most recently appeared as Louella Soames in Our Town, for East Side Players. Other roles include Hattie in Laundry and Bourbon, Edith in 'Dentity Crisis, Genevieve in The Long Christmas Dinner, and Mary in Leaving Home. She thanks her partner, family and friends for their love and support. This show is dedicated to G & S.
PAUL HARDY
(Charles Marlow)
Paul is extremely excited to be a part of this amazing production. Previous acting credits include Macbeth (Classical Theatre Project), Hang The Jury (Alumnae - New Ideas), Criminal Hearts (Alumnae Theatre), Showdown/How Can You Tell (Mixed Company), A Midsummer Night's Dream (Allegoria Productions), Marvin's Room and 1949 (Amicus Productions). He has also designed lighting for Praxis Theatre's Eugene and Steel, Gizmette for Theatreworks, Portrait for Allegoria Productions, and Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?, A Lie Of The Mind, The Real World?, Amy's View and Collected Stories for Alumnae Theatre. He directed Sam Shepard's A Lie Of The Mind for Alumnae Theatre's 2003/2004 season.
TINA KANAREK
(Mrs. Hardcastle)
Tina trained at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in England, and is pleased to be back at Alumnae, where she was last seen as the strait-laced Lotte Schoen in Peter Shaffer's Lettice and Lovage. Other favourite stage roles include Hannah in Arcadia, Penny in You Can't Take It With You, Marian in The Stillborn Lover and Charlotte in Moon Over Buffalo. Film credits include Here Or Not There and the lead role in Norma, which has played at film festivals all over the world.
ALAN LEIGHTIZER
(George Hastings)
Alan is pleased to be performing in his first Alumnae production! While he has spent considerable time at the theatre over the past year and a half, it has been most often in technical roles - running sound, running lights, stage managing and assistant stage managing. Not to say that he hasn't acted in other venues - How He Lied To Her Husband at the Village Playhouse, Sad, Lion at Driftwood Theatre Group's 'Trafalgar 24' event, Jack About the Beanstalk with Big Kid Entertainment, as well as numerous student films - but this . . . this is Alumnae!
TINA McCULLOCH
(Tavern Landlady; Servant)
Tina is very pleased to be back onstage at the Alumnae - she was last seen here in Tennessee Williams' Summer And Smoke a couple of seasons ago. Elsewhere, she's appeared at Theatre Aurora in Communicating Doors; with the Toronto Irish Players in The Mai; in Moon Over Buffalo and as Jane Eyre with Amicus Productions; and in her own play The View From Here at the Toronto Fringe last year. Currently crossing her fingers that a script she's writing now will make it into the New Ideas Festival next March.
JESSICA MOSS
(Constance Neville)
Jessica is currently writing the first sentence of her biography. She expects this to be followed by the second sentence, which will, in turn, be followed by the third sentence. Hey, what do you know, she was right. That, right there, was the third sentence. Tum-te-tum. This bio is not as thrilling as she had hoped it would be. Probably best to end it. Right now. P.S: Favorite roles include Helena in A Midsummer Night's Dream, Naomi in Naomi in the Living Room, and Sister Mary in Sister Mary Ignatius Explains It All to You.
DARYL TAYLOR
(Mr. Hardcastle)
Daryl is delighted to be appearing on the Alumnae stage for the first time. Trained at Toronto's Studio-Lab Theatre and London's Central School of Speech and Drama, Daryl has appeared in a number of productions in his native Australia and England, as well as Canada. He last appeared in Toronto in a production of A Clockwork Orange at Hart House Theatre. Favourite roles include Sir Thomas More in A Man For All Seasons, Andrew Crocker-Harris in The Browning Version and over 800 performances as Major Metcalf in the Toronto production of The Mousetrap. Film and TV credits include Hair of the Dog, Shadowland - The Legend, Mob Stories, Forensic Factor and System Crash.
JOHN E. TURNER
(Sir Charles Marlow, Jeremy, Tavern Patron, Roger)
John is as old as dirt. Many centuries ago he played Marlow in a University of Waterloo production of She Stoops. Little did he know that one day he would be playing Marlow's father at Alumnae Theatre in Toronto! As a young man, he spent three years at the Stratford Festival, then was trapped in London, Ontario for the next 30, where he performed in scores of plays. He has just finished a film to be released early next year, and will appear in London in the Grand Theatre's Christmas production of Annie.
DEVIN UPHAM
(Tony Lumpkin)
This is Devin's Alumnae Theatre debut, but he is no stranger to the Toronto stage. Impressive-sounding past roles include: Daniel in The Compleat Wrks of Wllm Shakspeare, Vasques in 'Tis Pity She's a Whore, Miles in Friar Bacon and Friar Bungay and Cotice in Ubu the King. Devin has also done a lot of film and television of late, some of which you'll probably never see. Hopefully you'll see him in this show, because as of the writing of this biography, he was well, mentally stable, and still a member of the cast.
SARAH WILLIAMSON
(Kate Hardcastle)
Having recently graduated from the University of Windsor's acting program, Sarah swears she's never stooped to conquer . . . While at Windsor, she performed on the mainstage in Little Women and Les Liaisons Dangereuses, so she is no stranger to the corset. Originally from Manitoulin Island, Sarah performed for seven years with the Gore Bay Summer Theatre, appearing in The Melville Boys, I'll Be Back Before Midnight and Sylvia, to name a few. Sarah is excited to now be able to call Toronto home and would like to thank everyone at Alumnae for their support and coffee . . .
AJIT ZACHARIAS
(Tavern Patron; Diggory)
Ajit has adapted, produced and acted in dramatic, comedic and musical productions - Look Back In Anger, My Fair Lady, The Vigil, Beggarman's Bluff, House by the Stable, Grab & Grace. Recently, he played the title role in The Mystic, a 30-minute film noir. He is delighted to be playing Diggory (and other roles) in Alumnae Theatre Company's production of She Stoops To Conquer.
She Stoops to Conquer Creative Team
OLIVER GOLDSMITH
(Playwright)
Goldsmith was born into genteel poverty in Ireland sometime between 1727 and 1731 - the exact year varies with sources. His college years in Dublin were miserable, due to his pockmarked face and “crude manners” which prevented him making friends. After his graduation and the death of his clergyman father, he traveled and drifted through various studies and professions. In 1756, he moved to London, penniless, but supposedly with a medical degree. He worked on many kinds of writing for the rapidly expanding book market - translations, articles, histories, and children's books, yet was frequently in debt. He was saved from debtors' prison in 1762 by his friend, Dr. Samuel Johnson, who sold the manuscript for Goldsmith's novel The Vicar Of Wakefield though it was not actually published until four years later. His reputation as a poet was established when his epic poem The Traveller appeared in 1764. He is primarily noted today producing those works and for She Stoops To Conquer which was a huge success in 1773. In poor health, the never-married Goldsmith died of a fever the following year.
PJ HAMMOND
(Director)
Since she is no longer playing Rum Tum Tugger on Broadway, PJ is obscenely thrilled to be directing Stoops and to be working with this talented, lovely and bend-able cast. Ever since the glaciation of Canada receded, PJ has been involved in theatre. Her experience ranges from on-stage to backstage, from deciduous to coniferous, from sound op (flush) to producing (splat). She has recently clear-cut her day job, making way for a professional career as a director. PJ is currently president of the Alumnae, but expecting her succession upon the Board reading this bio. Thanks to Naomi, Jessica and Margot for untold knowledge, organization and support. And to Jess M. for the grade nine science terms!
MARGOT DEVLIN
(Stage Manager)
Recent highlights include stage managing Little Shop of Horrors (Fallen Rock Productions), Goodnight Disgrace (Postscript Productions), The Real World? (Alumnae Theatre); assistant stage managing The Two Gentlemen of Verona (Shakespeare in the Rough), Platinum Travel Club (By the Word/Theatre Passe Muraille co-production), After the Fall (Equity Showcase), A Lie of the Mind (Alumnae Theatre) and production assistant on Urinetown (CanStage). It is an honour to work with such a talented cast and crew on this production. Thank you to PJ and Naomi for their faith in me and especially to Shaun for his patience!!
JESSICA KATZ
(Producer)
Jessica just can't seem to get enough of the Alumnae. After producing last season's double bill of George F. Walker's Problem Child/Criminal Genius, she's back! Elsewhere, she was recently the Apprentice Stage Manager for Stage West Mississauga's Anne of Green Gables: The Musical and Stage Manager for 7 Acts of Intercourse in the SummerWorks Festival. This fall Jessica will SM Romeo and Juliet for Hart House Theatre. Congratulations to the entire cast and crew!
NAOMI PRIDDLE HUNTER
(Assistant Director)
Hooked after her first stint as AD to PJ last season on Criminal Hearts, Naomi is happy to be back to play, in the 18th century this time. An Actor-Fight Director-Stage Manager, Naomi recently appeared on stage in Our Town for East Side Players, The Second Shepherd's Play for the PLS (a medieval theatre company, based at U of T), and in the ensemble cast of Ten Lost Years for the Alumnae, where she has been ubiquitous since 1985. Naomi has also staged duels, brawls, murder and mayhem in over 40 productions, including Orpheus Descending and The Illusion at the Alumnae and I Hate Hamlet for both Eastside Players and the Village Playhouse. She is looking forward to assisting with West Side Story for the Yorkminstrels, having enjoyed staging the wedding brawl for their Fiddler on the Roof.
MARGARET SPENCE
(Costume Designer)
Margaret specializes in designing period costumes, and has dressed the casts of innumerable productions at Alumnae Theatre over the years. Some of her favourites include the 18th century French aristocrats in Les Liaisons Dangereuses by de Laclos, London slaughterhouse workers of the early 1900's in Sarah Daniels' The Gut Girls, Eric Overmyer's On The Verge (Victorian lady explorers), and Tennessee Williams' Summer And Smoke (American Southerners, 1913). Elsewhere, she has designed costumes for The Marriage of Figaro (New Opera in Concert Centre) and La Bohème (Opera York), among others.
MICHAEL SPENCE
(Lighting Designer)
Michael has been designing lighting for the stage for some time. Among his Alumnae productions are Talley's Folly in the Studio, and On The Verge, Beautiful City and After You on the Mainstage. He also designs lighting for productions at The Arts and Letters Club of Toronto and for other venues in the Toronto area.
STEWART VANDERLINDEN
(Set Designer)
Stewart has created sets for numerous Alumnae productions including Who's Afraid Of Virginia Woolf? (1960's living room), Absurd Person Singular (three 1970's English kitchens), Summer And Smoke (Mississippi, circa 1913), Beautiful City (the seedy side of Toronto), and Talley's Folly (an old boathouse in 1944 Missouri). He's also served as ASM, lighting op, scenic painter and master carpenter on too many other Alumnae shows to mention. Other set design credits include One Man Masque (Toronto Masque Theatre at Tarragon Extra Space), the Canadian New Media Awards at CBC's Glenn Gould Studio, and Plan B at Theatre Passe Muraille. Stewart is the creator/director of Alumnae Theatre's Hallowe'en event, Readings In The Rafters - where costumed actors read classic spooky stories.
DOROTHY WILSON
(Head of Props)
Dorothy just loves doing Props, especially in a show like this one, where there's such a variety of Props needed, from a beer jug to a willow switch. She's done Props and Costume before at East Side Players, and Set Decoration for Amicus Productions and Scarborough Players, but this show is the best!! A great cast and crew, and wonderful directors to work with, not to mention Jessica, our Producer, who runs the funniest Production Meetings ever. Thanks for including me. Previous credits at The Alumnae include Props for Summer and Smoke and The Real World? and costumes for The Attic, The Pearls, and Three Fine Girls, Absurd Person Singular and Criminal Hearts.
JO-ANNE WURSTER
(Sound Designer)
Jo-Anne has composed a wide variety of original music for numerous theatre productions. These include The Pear is Ripe (Alumnae Theatre), The Lark (Mighty Brave Productions), Dr. Mason's Cure (Scenes and Dreams Theatre Company) and The Two Gentlemen of Verona (Driftwood Theatre), and has recently finished a collaboration on a kids' musical. Jo-Anne is also a rehearsal pianist, and has accompanied numerous choirs, groups, instrumentalists and singers for performances, competitions and recitals; she is currently the rehearsal and show pianist for the Yorkminstrel Showchoir. Jo-Anne graduated from York University with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in music.
She Stoops to Conquer Tickets and Times
| Performance Dates | Sept. 23, 24, 25, 29, 30, Oct. 1, 2, 6, 7, 8, 2005 |
| Performance Times | Thursday - Saturday at 8 pm Sunday matinees at 2 pm |
| Location | Alumnae Theatre 70 Berkeley Street at Adelaide, Toronto |
| Ticket Prices | Thursdays: 2 for 1 • Friday & Sat: $18 Sundays: PWYC |
| Reservations | Box Office: 416-364-4170 or email reservations@alumnaetheatre.com |
Can Audiences at She Stoops to Conquer Guess That Tune?
If you think the music used in She Stoops To Conquer sounds familiar, write your answers, name, mailing address, phone number and e-mail on a piece of paper and drop in the box in the lobby.
Guess two two songs/pieces of music correctly, and you could win a gift certificate from She Said Boom!
ALUMNAE THEATRE COMPANY
70 Berkeley Street
Toronto, Ontario • M5A 2W6
Phone: 416-364-4170
Email: contactus@alumnaetheatre.com
