Jewish Cultural Center

Anton Pavlovich Chekhov

PROPOSAL - THE BEAR

Funny love stories

Directed by Stefan Sablic

PROPOSAL

Natalia Stepanovna - Anja Josifovski

Ivan Vasilievich Lomov - Ivan Jevtovic

Stepan Stepanovich Chubukov - Branislav Zeremski

THE BEAR

Helena Ivanovna Popova - Sara Cizelj

Gregory Stepanovich Smirnov - Ivan Jevtovic

"Proposal" and "The Bear," one-act plays by Anton Pavlovich Chekhov, bring us characters who are both tragic and comedic. By playing out what they do not know about themselves, they discover the truth of life through comedy. Tragically funny, unaware of themselves, they draw us into a game full of love, conflict, and liberation. They speak little but reveal much - about themselves, about life, about all of us. In Chekhov's works, there are no grand events - the way the drama begins is usually how it ends. However, in these two charming, truthful, and warmly human one-acts, Chekhov introduces vivid sketch-like events, revealing changes in the characters. We witness the moment when they, surprised, recognize new shades of character they had never even suspected they possessed. I hope the audience will recognize a performance where truth is revealed through laughter, and tragedy turns into a smile! Chekhov's genius at work! His seemingly ordinary, everyday dialogues conceal profound truths about us. In this case, direction leads the game, reveals the subtext, and all through the prism of laughter and comedy, as Chekhov always intended his works to be performed, as comedies!

Director: Stefan Sablic

Costume and set design: Boris Caksiran

Speech coach: Dr. Ljiljana Mrkic Popovic

Organization: Irena Prvulovic

Photography: Ana Kostic

Music selection: Stefan Sablic

Sound design: Jelena Ciric

Lighting design: Marko Djuric

Catalog design: Aleksandar Djordjevic

ORGANIZER/SOURCE: Jewish Community Belgrade