Image ID: 08046

Photograph copy of a Southwell Theatre Poster, promoting performances of 'She stoops to conquer' and 'The young widow'

Courtesy of The Dean and Chapter of Southwell Minster

Queen Street ?
Southwell
Nottinghamshire
England

She stoops to Conquer' or 'The mistakes of a night'; a play by Oliver Goldsmith was first produced March 15, 1773, at the Covent Garden Theatre, London. This production at Southwell was performed 'On wednesday evening, May 12th 1841, and was followed by ' The young widow' (which appears to have been a mawkish melodrama. The combination of these two dramas would not have pleased Goldsmith who criticised such tales as 'The young widow' as follows.. 'a new species of dramatic composition has been introduced, under the name of sentimental comedy, in which the virtues of private life are exhibited, rather than the vices exposed; and the distresses rather than the faults of mankind make our interest in the piece. These comedies have had of late great success, perhaps from their novelty, and also from their flattering everyman in his favorite foible. In these plays almost all the characters are good, and exceedingly generous; they are lavish enough of their tin money on the stage; and though they want humor, have abundance of sentiment and feeling. If they happen to have faults or foibles, the spectator is taught, not only to pardon, but to applaud them, in consideration of the goodness of their hearts; so that folly, instead of being ridiculed, is commended, and the comedy aims at touching our passions without the power of being truly pathetic. In this manner we are likely to lose one great source of entertainment on the stage; for while the comic poet is invading the province of the tragic muse, he leaves her lovely sister quite neglected. Of this, however, he is no way solicitous, as he measures his fame by his profits. But it will be said, that the theatre is formed to amuse mankind, and that it matters little, if this end be answered, by what means it is obtained. If mankind find delight in weeping at comedy, it would be cruel to abridge them in that or any other innocent pleasure. If those pieces are denied by the name of comedies, yet call them by any other name and, if they are delightful, they are good. Their success, it will be said, is a mark of their merit, and it is only abridging our happiness to deny us an inlet to amusement.'

Date: 12/05/1841

Organisation Reference: NCCE001852

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