Northern Broadsides brings Oliver Goldsmith’s hilarious comedy of manners She Stoops to Conquer to the Oxford Playhouse this week in a production that is sure to make even the most serious theatre-goer chuckle.

Goldsmith’s 1773 play deals with the Hardcastles, a well-off country family. Mr Hardcastle wishes to marry off his daughter Kate to an eligible bachelor and the son of his friend, Mr Marlow, who is coming to visit their home for the first time. Marlow is travelling with his friend Hastings, who is secretly betrothed to Constance, cousin and friend of Kate. Marlow is inflicted with the inability to speak to ‘modest young women’ (although he has no trouble speaking to less-well-bred ladies) and so his meeting with Kate is not particularly successful. Kate is determined to win him and so she decides to pretend to be a barmaid to get the true measure of him. Meanwhile, Mrs Hardcastle has decided to pair Constance off with her absurd and spoilt son of her first marriage, Tony Lumpkin. Hilarity ensues as identities are mistaken, the audience is let in on secrets which the players don’t know, and Kate Hardcastle stoops to conquer the man she wishes to marry.

Mr Hardcastle, played by Howard Chadwick, is a blustering squire who wishes nothing so much as his daughter’s happiness in love. There is something of the pantomime dame in Gilly Tompkins as Mrs Hardcastle, who seems to have no real aims in life beyond being wealthy and fashionable, and controlling her wayward son, Tony Lumpkin, played by Jon Trenchard. Tompkins and Trenchard both belong in pantomime, with their truly incredible costumes and hair. The hair and costume teams have put together looks which practically steal the show with their over-the-top silliness, and their slapstick style of comedy on stage together never fails to raise a laugh from the audience.

All of the actors have a musical role – singing and playing among the action of the play. I would have enjoyed hearing even more songs from this company; particularly their bawdy drinking song from early in the first half which proves ideal in setting the tone for the rest of the play.

This is a fun production of a witty play which feels much more modern than its 240 years. Enjoy an evening watching She Stoops to Conquer at the Oxford Playhouse until Saturday 27th September. ★★★★☆ @BookingAround