The Marriage Proposal
Written by: Anton Chekhov
Directed by: Zoe Hadler
The Marriage Proposal by Anton Chekhov was a performance in which I had the pleasure to play as Stepan Stepanovitch Chubukov. Chubukov was originally written as a 50+-year-old single father, looking out for his daughter, wanting her to get married as soon as possible. When discussing the role, the director Hadler talked about wanting to bring something new to the character, but also respecting its original origins. The choice to switch the character’s gender brought many interesting challenges to the role, which I was excited to overcome.
Chubukov is a well-settled, open-minded, matured women. She’s a prominent pillar of the community, owning property and maintaining her status with ease. She has strong opinions she isn’t afraid to voice, becomes ignited when insulted (much to the audience’s hysterical delight), and yet is still caring and sweet with words. Learning to portray this character, discovering her voice, and figuring out her way of movement was an incredible experience, one I will treasure.
Entering the mindset of a mature woman, one who has focused her life on caring for her properties and her daughter, was a difficult challenge but one I feel I embraced. I learned to understand how actions speak louder than words, and how one’s pride can speak even louder.
Photos by: Rachel Baird
https://rachelbaird94.wixsite.com/rbphoto/client-showcase
