Classical Theatre Company to Present Chekhov's THE BEAR and THE PROPOSAL

Classical Theatre Company returns to the Russian Master Anton Chekhov with an evening of his one-act plays: The Bear and The Proposal plus a bonus reading of his essay The Evils of Tobacco.

These pieces are representative of Chekhov's vaudevillian comedies, short and packed with comic bits. While the humor in The Bear and The Proposal is broader and more farcical than in his better known works, his commentary on the Russian social structures of the time are no less satirical and biting.

"Chekhov is the king of the awkward comedy. You can think of him as the Ricky Gervais of his time," says CTC Executive Artistic Director John Johnston. "He boldly lampooned those around him with his plays during a tumultuous time in Russia, letting the consequences fall where they may."

Both plays examine love among the landed aristocracy of Czarist Russia and will leave the audiences in stitches. The Evils of Tobacco is a comic essay meant to be performed and will lead off the evening of Chekhov shorts.

"I love this little monologue about a browbeaten husband. Like the other two pieces, it's a hidden Chekhov gem," says Johnston.

The Evils of Tobacco will star Mark Roberts as Nyukhin. The Bear will feature Lindsay Ehrhardt as Popova, Mark Roberts as Luka and Benjamin McLaughlin as Smirnov. And The Proposal will be headlined by Mark Roberts as Chubukov, Ben McLaughlin as Lomov, and Lindsay Ehrhardt as Nataliya.

On the design team are: Costume Designer: Katie Smith; Lighting Designer: J. Mitchell Cronin; Scenic Designer: Mark Lewis; Sound Designer: Jon Harvey; and Properties Designer: Star Hinson.

The Bear & The Proposal (and The Evils of Tobacco) will run at Classical Theatre Company, 4617 Montrose Blvd., Houston, TX 77006, playing October 5 - October 23, 2016. Tickets: General Admission $25, Seniors $15, Teachers/Students and Industry $10 Available online at www.classicaltheatre.org.

The Classical Theatre Company is dedicated to boldly re-envisioning classical drama on the stage, in the community, and in the classroom through engaging and enlightening plays - bringing them new life and relevance while maintaining the integrity that the works deserve.