The Proposal and The Bear
Linfield Theatre launches the 2011-2012 season with two of Anton Chekhov's comic short plays, The Proposal, translated by George Malko and The Bear, adapted by Brian Friel. Chekov pokes fun at love, marriage, and the battle of the sexes in these two hilarious satires. Performance dates are Sept. 21, 22, 23, and 24 at 7:30 p.m. in the Marshall Theatre at Ford Hall.
About the Plays
The Proposal tells the story of Ivan
Vassiliyitch Lomov, a man whose marriage proposal to his neighbor's daughter
cannot be accepted until he settles a dispute of land ownership. In The Bear,
Chekhov explores the fine line between love and necessity in Russia during the
late 1800s. It is the story of Smirnov, a man who must collect a debt from
Popova, owed to him by her deceased husband. Popova defends her scoundrel
husband and enrages Smirnov to the point of attraction.
Well known throughout the world for his great late-19th and early-20th century
plays, Uncle Vanya, The Sea Gull, The Three
Sisters and The Cherry Orchard, Chekhov also wrote numerous
short plays. George Malko has translated nineteen of Chekhov's short writings,
dating from 1883 to 1902. As Malko notes, "This gathering reveals that
despite a life of tragedy, pain and disappointments, Chekhov believed in the
comic vision of experience." In a review of Friel's adaptation, Alastair
Macaulay of The Financial Times says, "[The Bear] is
superbly funny, vivid, keenly alert to Chekhov's modern sensitivities to gender
issues."
About the Production
Guest-director Jan Powell will lead the production. She compared all the translations she could find for each play and chose this pair for their natural-sounding language and punchy comic timing. "Sometimes I would say the lines out loud, to test their effect on the ear, because spoken language operates very differently than language that is read, particularly when it comes to humor, she said. "I’m very pleased with the versions we are using. In each play, Chekhov brings together perhaps the two most unlikely pair of lovers, and toys with how he might bring them together. Wonderfully fun stuff."
The production features Tim Singer, Jeremy Odden, Nicholas Granato, Kanon Havens, Chris Forrer, and Jenny Layton. The performers are supported by scenic and lighting designer Tyrone Marshal; costume designer Alethia Moore-Del Monaco; sound designer Robert Vaughn; and stage manager Bailey Maxwell.
The Linfield cast and production team are working within a brief rehearsal period. With the start of the academic year, students had only three weeks to prepare for opening night. "Because we have to work so fast, everyone is on their 'A' game -- remarkably open and willing to fully commit to any direction I give them, and to work efficiently, making every second count," said Powell. "We laugh a lot in rehearsal; good theatre requires a lot of playfulness in the putting together. But there is also tremendous discipline here. It's been a very satisfying experience."
About the Director
Powell is the founding artistic director at the Tygres Heart Shakespeare Company and continues to direct at colleges and universities across the country. With a principal focus in Shakespeare, Powell has produced and directed most of the canon, including all of Shakespeare's histories. Powell's past experience has taken her around the world from The Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in London, to directing "Taming the Shrew" for Kingsmen Shakespeare in Los Angeles. Most recently, Powell worked as artistic director of the Lake Tahoe Shakespeare Festival where she helped guide their transition into producing.
Ticket Information
Tickets are $9 for full price and $7 for seniors (62+) and Linfield faculty and staff (2 tickets per ID); with a $2 discount on opening night. Tickets for all students (1 ticket per ID) are just $3 on Wednesday and Thursday and $5 on Friday and Saturday. Seating is reserved. Tickets are available at www.linfield.edu/culture, by phone or at the Marshall Theatre Box Office. Located in the lobby of Ford Hall, the box office is open Monday through Friday from 3 to 5 p.m., and until 7:30 p.m. on performance days. The box office will also be open September 24 from 3 to 7:30 p.m. For more information, call 503-883-2292.
Marshall Theatre at Ford Hall
To reach Ford Hall from Highway 99W, turn east on Keck Drive at the McMinnville Market Center in south McMinnville. Turn right on Lever Street and right again on Ford Drive. Ford Hall is located at the west end of the parking lot. Click here for a campus map. Ford Hall is number 58B on the map.
The Marshall Theatre is fully accessible and assisted listening devices are available at each performance