Jess and Naomi have come down to the Olivier Theatre at the National to see She Stoops To Conquer. They don't know too much about the show but they have a friend who is in the show, so have come to support him.
A stellar cast that features the best of British acting and comedic talent, the ensemble period comedy ‘She Stoops To Conquer’ has remained a treasured and much cherished piece of stage literature and its appeal to audiences still endures the test of time. The play is now enjoying a run at the National Theatre, with it being performed at the renowned Olivier Theatre, which is the largest of the three theatres at the National. A play that combines elements of farce and satire, famous Irish playwright Oliver Goldsmith’s ‘She Stoops to Conquer’ is considered both a comedy of errors and comedy of manners where humour is derived from several cases of mistaken identity and how characters actions differ to the social classes they try to inhibit. Featuring Steve Pemberton, star of much loved British sitcom ‘Benidorm’ and British film star Sophie Thompson (Four Weddings and a Funeral, Emma, Gosford Park) as Hardcastle and Mrs Hardcastle, the show boasts a wealth of acting talent. In particular, much attention surrounds Katherine Kelly, otherwise known as loveable northern lass and Rovers Return barmaid Becky McDonald in classic British soap Coronation Street. Feisty barmaid Becky recently left Weatherfield in dramatic fashion and so with this, actress Katherine Kelly is now involving herself in other projects. Despite her soap background and being strongly familiarised with the role of Becky, this is not Katherine’s first foray into gracing the stage what with her classical training at RADA and appearing in productions such as Shakespeare’s ‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream’ and ‘Othello’. What would people make of her turn as Miss Hardcastle in ‘She Stoops To Conquer’ and could she make the transition from the Rovers Return to the works of Goldsmith. On Tuesday 7 February 2012, WinkBall video reporters Alex and Tom were at the National Theatre for the evening’s performance of ‘She Stoops To Conquer’ speaking to theatre lovers who had come to see the show. Asking them what had brought them to see the show, fans were also asked whether they were familiar with this play and this type of farcical play? With Katherine Kelly taking on the important role of Miss Hardcastle, what did they make of this casting and would her performance stand up to the test? Afterwards, fans were asked what they made of the show and to leave a short review.