Oliver Goldsmith’s 1773 classic, “She Stoops to Conquer,” will soon amuse and entertain audiences this weekend at the Albert L. Jeffers Theatre in Liberal Arts Building South on the Edinburg campus.
The play will begin at 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday and at 2 p.m. Sunday.
The director of the production, Kent Smither, said the play is funny and appeals to modern audiences despite its long history.
“It’s one of the most produced plays from that time period,” Smither said. “It shows a girl who takes charge of who she’s going to marry herself, even though she’s from the upper class and even though her family has plans for who they think she should marry.”
He said “She Stoops to Conquer” has an unusually feminist feel for a play from that time period due to the main character taking charge.
Selina Soto, a theatre performance senior and actress of 13 years, plays “Mrs. Hardcastle.” She said the comedy has a wonderful story and the main plot point is basically a woman “stooping” lower to take control.
Smither said the cast has been rehearsing the different characters’ dialect for six weeks.
The cast is made up of 12 students and two alumni. However, there are 21 characters in the play, forcing six students to double up and shape two characters, according to Smither.
He said music and songs were written for all the scene changes throughout the play where the servants sing, entertain the audience and give them hints as to what may be happening next.
“Anybody that produces this show anywhere else, no matter what they did or didn’t do, that part of it will be different,” Smither said.
He said despite not reading the play in 40 years, when he read it again, he thought it was even better than he remembered.
“If nothing else, the audience is going to be in for a treat just to look at the costumes and the set,” Smither said. “It’s going to be really beautiful, and the actors are talented, and the play is really good. So, I’m hoping the production will also be that way.”
Jennifer Saxton, a theatre associate professor and costume and set designer, said the theme of the design was based on “confections,”comparing it to a dollhouse and utilizing colors reminiscent of chocolate, strawberry icing and whipped cream.
Saxton said they’ve been planning the design since last April.
“There’s just so much that goes on,” Smither said. “Nobody could imagine how many hours of work go into this kind of thing.”
Smither, Saxton and Soto all said they hoped everyone comes out and enjoys the show.
General admission is $15, $10 for senior citizens and military service members, and $5 for UTRGV students, staff and faculty with a valid ID.
Tickets may be purchased online at utrgv.edu/theater-tickets.
Children below third grade will not be allowed in the theater.
For more information, call 665-3581 or email theatreboxoffice@utrgv.edu.
