Product Description

Oliver Goldsmith's classic comedy of manners, tells of the clever schemes and comic ruses that unfold one night at a country house. An ambitious step-mother, impassioned sweethearts, a pragmatic father and a pair of star-crossed suitors are sent spinning through a hilarious comedy of errors by one of the great characters of the stage, Tony Lumpkin.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #26306 in DVD
• Released on: 2003-07-21
• Rating: Parental Guidance
• Format: PAL
• Original language: English
• Number of discs: 1
• Running time: 139 minutes

Special Features
English
Region 2

Synopsis
Oliver Goldsmith's timeless 18th century social drama is brought to vivid life in this stage production by the National Theater Company.

Review
'exudes all-out fun and frivolity... the sheer verve of the exuberantly witty dialogue was quite enough to keep the 21st century audience at the National Theatre roaring with laughter. The crowd simply loved it' --Daily Mirror

Customer Reviews

DVD of a film of a play
This is a film of a production of the play.

The cameras were in the theatre, and so were the actors.

Max Stafford-Clark is an excellent director.

There are very few cuts to the original text, but some more asides to the audience have been added. You will want to write an essay - in the style of Barthes - on why it is that these modern asides prove to get the biggest laughs.

The actors project their voices but we are so close we see how this distorts their face and neck muscles.

It is splendid. There are no extras.

Superb Live Production
As a drama teacher always in search of excellent video resources that convey the thrill of live theatre to my students, I cannot recommend this filmed production too highly. I saw this production several years ago at the National Theatre in London with the same cast of actors and the DVD does a very good job of capturing a world class performance on film. The transition to film does not result in a stulted feeling, so common with filmed theatre productions. The cast is uniformly brilliant and the editing, particularly from wide angle to close up, happens so smoothly one barely notices the transitions. This dvd is a superb resource for all drama teachers who wish to expose their students both to the joys of (late) restoration comedy and to one of Britain's leading theatre groups, Cheek By Jowl. It also makes highly entertaining viewing for any persons who appreciate classical theatre at its very best.