By BRITTANY WEST

Contributing Writer

Chandeliers hung from the ceiling, people sat above the stage in balcony seating and the entire audience received a lesson on theatre, circa 1773. 

Swanson’s mainstage theater transformed into the Drury Lane Theater of London, England for a five-day run of  “She Stoops to Conquer,” a sentimental comedy written by Oliver Goldsmith.

The Piedmont College Department of Theatre presents a classical play every two years. 

“She Stoops to Conquer” was directed by John F. Spiegel, with junior theatre major Katie Robinson as the assistant director.

“She Stoops to Conquer,” also known as “Mistakes of a Night,” tells the story of four lovers on a zany, chaotic journey to find love. 

Miss Hardcastle, played by junior theatre major Melissa Rice, must meet Charles Marlow, played by sophomore theatre major Jacob McKee. 

Marlow is nervous around upper-class women, therefore Miss Hardcastle stoops to conquer Marlow and win his affections by pretending to be a lower-class barmaid.

George Hastings, played senior theatre major Jeremy Douylliez, shares a secret romance with Miss Neville, played by junior theatre major Alexandra Mahoney. 

Miss Neville wants her inheritance of jewels that are kept with her guardian Mrs. Hardcastle, played by junior theatre major Lilly Baxley. 

However, Mrs. Hardcastle only approves of a marriage between her son, Tony Lumpkin, played by freshman theatre major Garrett Holloway, and Miss Neville in order to keep the jewels in the family.

Even though “She Stoops to Conquer” follows the story of this quartet of lovers, the play had an ensemble cast of 21 other Piedmont students that filled the play with moments of laughter.

The Piedmont College Department of Theatre says goodbye to the 18th century for now as they prepare for the upcoming April production of “J.B.” by Archibald MacLeish.