The Bear & The Proposal By Anton Chekhov

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August 16, 2013

Friday 8:00 PM - 10:00 PM

Phoenix Theatre Annex

414 Mason Street Suite 406
San Francisco, California 94102

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The Bear & The Proposal By Anton Chekhov

The Overcast Theatre returns for its second and final production of its 2013 season. In the company's first tackling of a work by Anton Chekhov, Overcast presents the hilarious vaudevilles "The Bear" and "The Proposal" for your absolute pleasure.

The Bear and The Proposal both written in 1888 were Anton Chekhov’s first vaudeville russes. These hilarious one-act pieces brought him both financial successes to press on in his thearical endeavors but also certified him in his capabilities, as a writer of drama as up to then he was only a celebrated short story writer. Chekhov would ultimately be inspired by the old French vaudeville genre in his own innovative manner to refresh it and produce hysterical and popular works that would challenge and redefine what was possible on the Russian stage at the time. His handful of vaudevilles would also aide Chekhov in finding his dramatic voice in writing his later full-length plays that he would be so famously known for worldwide.

The Bear tells the story of a widow named Yelena Ivanovna Popova, in her perpetual state of morning, with her old serving woman Luka unable to persuade her to move on with her life or to simply go out and enjoy the sunshine. On the 7-month mark of her husband’s death she is unexpectedly visited by the loud, instigative, and boorish landowner Grigory Stepanovich Smirnoff. Smirnoff has not come for tea or conversation but for a matter of business. It so happens Popova’s late husband left an unpaid debt to Smirnoff that he absolutely needs credited on this day or risk losing his assets. Matters become tricky as Popova cannot immediately pay the debt due to her manager’s absence and her emotional state. Smirnoff being declined yet again from another IOU and in his desperation, loses his patience and his manners. With this impasse comes a hilarious battle of the sexes, of the wits, and of the wills. All these elements combined produce a humorous, sharp, and energetic piece of Russian Theatre. This production will feature projections, music, physical comedy, and a wonderfully punchy script to leave you smiling all evening long.

“Sometimes I wonder if men and women really suit each other.
Perhaps they should live next door and just visit now and then.”
― Katharine Hepburn

The Proposal follows Ivan Vassilevitch Lomov, a stubborn landowner, prone to hypochondria, as he enters the home of his neighbor, Stepan Stephanovitch Chubukov, to ask for the hand of his daughter, Natalya Stepanovna. When the two "would-be" lovebirds begin to argue over things as trivial as a small plot of land and a pair of hunting dogs, hilarity ensues. Chubukov and Natalya gang up on Lomov, causing his anxiety to
manifest physically, leaving him paralyzed and crawling toward the door.

Will Chubukov marry his Natalya off and finally get some peace and quiet?

Will the couple live happily ever after or kill each other in the process?

Maybe the two make better neighbors than lovers.

PERFORMANCE LOCATION: The Phoenix Annex, 414 Mason Street (4th Floor) San Francisco

PERFORMANCE DATES: Fridays & Saturdays Aug 16-17 & 23-24 8pm Sundays Aug 18 & 25 5pm.

General $12

Senior/Youth/University Affiliate $11 (Only can be purchased at the door, CASH ONLY)*

These two plays run as a double feature every night of our performance. That's right two plays for the price of one.

With Performances By:

Teri Whipple- Yelena Ivanovna Popova

Julia Lienke- Luka

Joseph Lerma- Grigory Stepanovich Smirnoff