The Proposal/The Ring. Innovative Approach to an Old Classic
Directed by William Beddoe* Dramaturgy/Workshop Direction (The Ring) & Photography by Andrew Alexander Fight Direction by Zach Counsil* Lighting Design by Graham Price Stage Manager Donna Price Assistant Stage Manager Kenney Vandelinde Produced by Andrew Alexander & William Beddoe
We have been waiting for two years, and we can finally say: ‘Welcome back to the Ottawa Fringe Festival”. This year for it 25th anniversary, the Ottawa Fringe brings 42 shows, wth genres as different as can be: dramas, comedies, dance, music, magic, storytelling – there is something for every taste. Plus – something we all need after two gloomy years – there is quite a number of comedies to cheer us up. One such comedy is TheProposal/The Ring, an interesting take on Anton Chekhov’s one act play. “The Proposal”.
The show consists of two plays performed as one two-act play – Checkov’s original one act play, “The Proposal” (the first part), as well as a more modern view of the relations of the two main characters, Natalya Stepanovna Chubukova and Ivan Vassilevitch Lomov making up the second part, called The Ring and written by Laurie Fyffe.
Chekhov’s original play is a story about wealthy landowner Ivan’s decision to marry his neighbour’s (Stepan’s) daughter Natalya. He comes to Stepan’s house to propose, but his personality stands in his way. The narrative and the humor in “The Proposal” relies on the expression of Ivan’s insecurity, greediness, arrogance, and stubbornness. All these characteristics combined prevent him from speaking directly, and continually sidetrack the conversation, making him an awkward character. Contrary to Ivan, Natalya is a self-confident young woman, though as greedy and stubborn as he is. Living in 19th century Russia, on top of that, she needs to be married if she wants to have a better place in Russian society.
Although Chekhov himself never thought much of this fast paced, dialogue based farce, it was an instant success, thanks to its humorous way of exposing greedy, superficial attitudes of the Russian high class, where (like everywhere else in those days), marriage was based on wealth rather than on sentiment. Still Chekhov did not like it, claiming that it was mostly misinterpreted.
Of course, all published works are subject to interpretation, both by the audience/readers and by directors/actors. In this version of the play, the director William Beddoe sees Ivan as a nervy guy and Natalya as a strong woman. That is how Laurie Fyffe portrays them in “The Ring,” as well. Ivan does not know his own mind and constantly second guesses himself, one moment wanting to be married another to escape. Natalya is portrayed as a determined, scheming woman, who knows what she wants and does not let honour or principles stand in her way. In both plays, a vital role in this courtship belongs to Natalya’s eager, greedy father Gruzinsky, expertly played by Jeff Lefebvre. Kurt Shantz (as Ivan) and Sarah Marks (as Natalya) overall do justice to their respective characters.
All in all, this is a very interesting and innovative approach in which Laurie Fyffe did a good job as playwright. The performance could do with some work in order to make the characters more natural. Change of mood and, therefore increase of voice volume during the disagreements between Ivan and Natalya could be more gradual. Also, keeping in mind that this is a dialogue-based comedy, the comedic effects could have been more verbal and less physical. Sometimes this physical element diminished the strength of the play and lost some meaning in the process. Other than this, “The Proposal/The Ring” is a very entertaining play which is well worth seeing.
Production: Plan B Productions
Written by: Anton Chekhov (The Proposal) and Laurie Fyffe (The Ring)
Cast:
Ivan Vassilevitch Lomov (Kurt Shantz)
Natalya Stepanovna Chubukova (Sarah Marks)
Stepan/father Gruzinsky (Jeff Lefebvre
Creative team:
Director William Beddoe
Dramaturge and Photography –