The Proposal

Summary

1959 BBC Schools Television production of The Proposal by Anton Chekhov.

Theatre play

The Proposal by Anton Chekhov (1860-1904) [more information]

Play synopsis

A one-act farce of dialogue-based action and situational humour. Lomov, neighbour of Chubukov, has come to propose marriage to Chubukov’s 25-year-old daughter, Natalia. After he has asked and received joyful permission to marry Natalia, she is invited into the room, and he tries to convey to her the proposal. Lomov is a hypochondriac, and, while trying to make clear his reasons for being there, he gets into an argument with Natalia about The Oxen Meadows, a disputed piece of land between their respective properties, which results in him having "palpitations" and numbness in his leg. After her father notices they are arguing, he joins in and then sends Ivan away. While Stepan rants about Lomov, he expresses his shock that "this fool dares to make you (Natalia) a proposal of marriage!" She become hysterical, begging for her father to bring him back. He does, and Natalia and Ivan get into a second big argument, this time about the superiority of their respective hunting dogs. Ivan collapses from his exhaustion over arguing, and father and daughter fear he’s dead. However, after a few minutes he regains consciousness, and Tschubukov all but forces him and his daughter to accept the proposal with a kiss. Immediately following the kiss, the couple get into another argument.

Production history

Written in 1888-89 and first performed in 1890.

Date of transmission

Tuesday 10 March 1959

Time

2.05pm (30 mins)

Series

Schools

Channel

BBC Television

Production company

BBC

Credits

Producer

Rosemary Hill

Playwright

Anton Chekhov (1860-1904)

Translator

Elisaveta Fen

Designer

Gordon Roland

Cast

David Bird	Tchubukov
Harry Moore	Lomov
Anne Robson	Natalyia

Additional details

Play tags

19th-century setting; comedy; farce; Russian drama

Programme context tags

schools television programming

Audiovisual sources

Title

The Proposal (BBC, 1959)

Archive

BBC Information and Archives [more information]

Address

White City
London
UK

Telephone

+44 (0)20 8008 2288

Website

http://www.bbc.co.uk/informationandarchives/

Access

BBC Information and Archives is not open to the public.

Print sources

Title

Radio Times, 6 March 1959 (Magazine)

Linking notes

listing, p. 16, with illustration