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The Bear & The Proposal
Two one act farces
Playwright - Anton Checkov
Director - Peter Clerke
Designer - Iain Halkett
Company - Benchtours
March 2004 Tour Details here.
Seen to review during Spring 2002 tour at - Whale Learning Centre,
30 Westburn Grove, Wester Hailes, Edinburgh it then went Edinburgh Fringe
2002 at Bunton Theatre.
Run Time - Just over an hour, no interval. I enjoyed it so much
I forgot to look at my watch!
Reviewer - Robert Williamson
Two gems of energetically theatrical performance
It is said that Checkov never really took his short plays very seriously.
Thankfully, however, Benchtours do. Peter Clerke offers us seriously hilarious,
exuberantly theatrical back to back farces set in Iain Halkett's simple
and honest late 19th century Russian front room. The acting is truthful
charged by this strong ensemble.
Popova, Catherine Gillard, opens The Bear bereft and grieving
for her dear departed husband. She woefully declares herself …entombed
in this room. Smirnov, Stuart Ennis, brings a mortgage demand for
her husbands debt. Popova cannot pay. Smirnov, then, cannot leave. He
declares that he will stay …for an entire year if he has to.
Smirnov's actions and unreasonable demands sends Popova into a terrible
rage. When she accepts Smirnov's challenge to a duel Smirnov become hopelessly
smitten and head over heels in love with Popova's inner strength. He cannot
shoot her - she does not know how to shoot him and love conquers, almost…
In The Proposal Lomov, Tim Licata, the hypochondriac neighbour
of Natalya, Catherine Gillard, is at that critical age, 35, where
he must take control of his life, amidst ticks, twitches and shooting
pains which deprive him of sleep. Lomov has come to seek Natalya's hand
in marriage.
Things progress slowly, but well, until a dispute arises about the ownership
of a meadow. Natalya's father Chubukov, Stewart Ennis, proves the
breaking of Lomov. When he declares that Lomov's family were all mad Lomov
stumbles off in a fit of ticks and palpitations. Chubokov cannot believe
that the idiot had come to propose. Natalya demands that her father bring
Lomov back. Great happiness results…aside from a number of arguments about
dogs and fields…
Benchtours' The Bear and The Proposal result in two gems
of energetically theatrical performance sometimes not found in other interpretations
of Checkov. I also loved the way they achieved the transition between
the two plays without an interval. Make sure you see Benchtours…they're
good for your soul!
© Robert Williamson 20 February 2002
Review of Benchtours 2002 production of Checkov's The
Cherry Orchard.
Benchtours will be touring Ibsen's Peer Gynt in May and June 2004.
2004 Spring Tour of Benchtour's production
of The Bear and The Proposal.
9 March at 7.30pm
Argyll Cairndow Village Hall 01499 600 380.
10 March at 7.30pm Oban Corran Halls 01631 567 333.
11 March at 7.30pm Invergordon Arts Centre 01349 868 479.
12 March at 7.30pm Clashmore The Carnegie Hall 01408 635
211.
13 March at 8pm Skerray Village Hall 01641 521 212.
16 March at 1.15pm and 7pm North Edinburgh Arts Centre 0131
315 2151.
17 March at 10.15am and 1.15pm North Edinburgh Arts Centre
0131 315 2151.
18 March at 8pm Melrose The Wynd Theatre 01896 820 028.
March 22nd - 26th English Theatre Company, Warsaw
March 29th - April 2nd English Theatre Company, Krakow
Tour Ends.
Fringe 2002 dates - 15 - 17, 20 -24 August at 7:30pm and also 22, 24 August
at 2pm at Brunton Theatre Musselburgh.
2002 Spring Tour went to
11 Feb 2002 at 7.30pm West Pilton Neighbourhood Centre 0131 315 2151 /
£1
12 Feb at 7.30pm Wester Hailes WHALE Learning Centre, 0131 458 3267 /
£1
14 Feb at 7.30pm Craigmillar Arts Centre 0131 669 8432 £1
23 Feb at 1.45pmAberdeen Art Gallery Story-telling Festival 01224 346
361 / Free
25 Feb at 7.30pm Drumchapel Kinfaus Centre, 0141 287 9829 / £2 - £1
26 Feb at 7.30pm Garthamlock Visual Statement, 0141 287 9829 / £2 - £1
27 Feb at 7.30pm Castlemilk Youth Complex, Castlemilk 0141 287 9829 /
£2 - £1
28 Feb at 7.30pm Partick Annexe, Partick 0141 287 9829 / £2 - £1
1 & 2 March at 8pm Glasgow Ramshorn Theatre, 0141 552 3489 / £8 -
£4
7 March at 7:30pm Musselburgh Brunton Theatre, 0131 665 2240 / £7.50 -
£3.50
Tour Ended
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