The National Arts Centre English Theatre presents The
"Vaudevilles" of Chekhov -- Swan Song, The Proposal, The Evils
of Tobacco and The Bear
May 15, 2003 -
Ottawa -- Four hilarious one-act plays about love on one bill set
the mood for spring at the National Arts Centre. The "Vaudevilles"
of Chekhov, (Swan Song, The Proposal, The Evils of Tobacco and
The Bear) by Anton Chekhov, in new English versions by Ottawa
playwrights Morwyn Brebner and Andrew Moodie, Directed by Micheline
Chevrier, runs on the thrust stage of the NAC Theatre from May 22 to
June 7 (Preview on May 21) with performances at 19:30 and Saturday
matinees at 14:00.
Chekhov himself dubbed these four early one-acts, "vaudevilles."
Written for their earning potential at a time when the
playwright's family was struggling financially, each of the
plays deals with a subject that Chekhov would continue to explore in
his later, more famous plays: love, in all its manifestations, glory
and complication! In the painfully funny Swan Song, an aging
character actor laments a lost love and reflects upon his less than
heroic career with self-absorbed regret. In The Proposal a
heated property dispute derails a marriage proposal with outrageously
funny consequences. The Evils of Tobacco has almost nothing to
do with tobacco and everything to do with a hen-pecked husband; and
in The Bear, an enraged creditor falls spontaneously and
passionately in love
with his debtor's widow as she vehemently refuses to pay her
dead husband's debt. Witty, rife with characteristically
Chekhovian insight, and hysterically funny, these four one-act plays
have been "renewed" in new English versions by two Ottawa
playwrights: Morwyn Brebner (Swan Song and The Bear)
and Andrew Moodie (The Evils of Tobacco and The
Proposal). These new versions have been developed through the NAC
English Theatre New Play Development programme.
Micheline Chevrier directs this National Arts Centre production.
Set and Costume Design are by Judith Bowden; Lighting Design is by
John Munro; Original Music and Sound Design are by Marc Desormeaux
and Jo Leslie is the Movement Director.
A brilliant cast brings Chekhov's endearing characters to
life:
Swan Song
Vasily Vasilych Svetlovidov..... Douglas Campbell
Nikita Ivanich..... Paul Rainville
The Proposal
Natalya Stepanych..... Christine Brubaker
Stepan Stepanych..... Peter Froehlich
Ivan Vasilyevich..... Patrick McManus
The Evils of Tobacco
Nyukhin..... Peter Froehlich
The Bear
Elena Ivanovna Popova..... Yanna McIntosh
Luka..... Patrick McManus
Grigory Stepanovich Smirnov..... Paul Rainville
The Stage Management team for this production is headed by Laurie
Champagne with Tobi Hunt as Assistant Stage Manager and
Stéfanie Séguin as Apprentice Stage Manager. Nicholas
Burton is the Assistant to the Director.
Tickets for The "Vaudevilles" of Chekhov are available at
the NAC Box Office in person or through Ticketmaster at 755-1111, and
on-line through the Ticketmaster link on the NAC's web site at
www.nac-cna.ca (a service
charge applies to all purchases made through Ticketmaster).
Tickets prices are from $28.50 to $49.50. Students should
visit the Live Rush™ page online at www.liverushnac.ca
to find out how to obtain Live Rush seats ($9.50) available on a
first-come, first-served basis after 18:00 on the day of
performance.
The NAC English Theatre is pleased to have the Ottawa Citizen as
its media partner for the English Theatre Main Stage 2002-2003
Season. Student matinees are made possible with the assistance of the
Imperial Oil Foundation.
The "Vaudevilles" of Chekhov - Listings Info.
May 22 - June 7 (preview May 21).
No performances Sundays or Mondays
NAC Theatre
19:30 Tuesday through Saturday
Wednesday matinee for students and seniors at 12:30, May 28
Saturday matinees 14:00, May 24, 31 and June 7
Tickets available at NAC Box Office in person; through Ticketmaster
755-1111 or on-line through Ticketmaster link www.nac-cna.ca
Tickets from $28.50 to $49.50
Other activities related to The "Vaudevilles" of Chekhov
are:
Pre-Show Chat - An informal discussion before the Saturday
Matinee performance Saturday, May 24 at 13:00 in the NAC Panorama
Room ; Guest Speaker: Director, Micheline Chevrier
Thursday Talkbacks - A Post-Performance Question and Answer
session with performers - Thursday, May 29 and June 5
