All seedy associations with stooping and conquering aside, the New Arcadians’ production of Goldsmith’s She Stoops To Conquer could not have made it more clear that it was being staged in the aftermath of Suicide Sunday and at the culmination of exam term. Most notably this was manifested in the production’s distinct sketchiness, such as the slightly distracting underwear issues with one or two members of the cast (modest little Miss Neville’s unexpected vampy side shining through her diaphanous white dress), although possibly this was to be expected given the bawdiness of the title. That said, this lack of finish was part of its overall charm.

Creative use of a rather limited space resulted in some innovative usage of the gallery of Sidney’s Great Hall; it produced some interesting dramatic effects but posed some difficulties in terms of head-craning and where the audience were supposed to be looking. There were some intruiging anachronisms, particularly the evident legacy from yesterday in the form of Chris Page Hastings’ gold Wyverns wristband which arguably did compliment his fetching yellow collar. The Ribena used to represent some form of decanter-worthy alcoholic beverage merely served to remind me how thirsty I was, making me resent the fact that the Pimms sitting so temptingly behind me was not included in the ticket price, a point which caused some dissension amongst audience-members. It is May Week, after all.

That said, She Stoops To Conquer was everything you might expect from a May Week show. It suffered from the classic constraints in being evidently under-rehearsed and restrained by the set, but the acting overall was to be commended, particularly that of Emily Porton and Micky Alexander as Miss and Mr Hardcastle, the blustering Alexander admirably sustaining a broad Yorkshire accent throughout. It was evident that both audience and cast were enjoying themselves; though a little patchy around the edges, She Stoops To Conquer is undeniably fun.