The Proposal

Summary

1946 BBC studio production of Anton Chekhov’s one-act comedy The Proposal.

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

Wednesday 12 June 1946

Time

9.05-9.35pm

Channel

BBC Television

Production company

BBC

Credits

Producer

Fred O’Donovan (1889-1952)

Playwright

Anton Chekhov (1860-1904)

Translator

Constance Garnett

Cast

Edward Lexy	Tchubov
Marjorie Mars	Natasha
Desmond Walter-Ellis	Lomov

Additional details

Origination

Live from studio

Vision original

Monochrome

Later transmissions

Presented again at 3.30pm on Tuesday 18 June 1946.

Extant status

No archival copy is known to exist.

Play tags

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

Print sources

Title

Radio Times, 7 June 1946 (Magazine)

Linking notes

listing and photograph, p. 26