The GingerbreadMan Collective returns with their comedy double bill; Anton Chekhov’s The Bear and The Proposal. The hilarious staging of two of Chekhov’s short plays explores the relationship between man and woman. It’s a story of contrasts, evident in the six diverse characters that the cast of three interprets.  In The Bear, Popova (Leigh Bremridge) has locked herself in the house since her husband’s death. Unable to pay her dead husband’s debt, she is embroiled in an argument with a neighbouring land owner; Smirnov (Trad Nogueira-Godsey), whom she calls, among other things, a bear. Caught in the middle of their argument is Popova’s delicate footman, Luka (Matt Roy).  Like The Bear, The Proposal follows the fiery relationship between two highly opinionated characters. A long time neighbour, Lomov (Nogueira-Godsey), asks for Stepan’s (Roy) sister’s hand in marriage. After receiving her brother’s blessing, Natalya (Bremridge) is asked to join them. This is where the farce begins. Arguing about the mundane, with his betrothed, emotions escalate to a hysterical high. Lomov finally collapses from exhaustion.

Audience Responses

Really good show x very funny x great evenings entertainment!

After a slow, uncertain start the actors warmed up and in the end delivered realistic performances. The addition of a "peasant woman" was a nice touch. Pity the theatre wasn't full! Should have been...

So nice to see people doing something that they love. Great entertainment. The food at the restaurant is not great.

Would give more than 5 stars, if there was an option like that. Outstanding.

No stars simply zero! One does not like to see theatre fail so badly but this was an abomination of poor interpretation and pure 'rape' of a classic text ignoring or simply unable to understand the themes. Both stories were excruciating - the director completely missed the dramatic suspence which is the pivot to the comedy in both pieces. I have in all honesty never seen anything so poorly staged (unimaginative and pedestrian) on Alexander stage. The Louka character in The Bear was unacceptable and transposing The Proposal into a hill-billy charade was a cop out! The male lead has imitation ability but no ability to engage with emotion and clearly should not appear on a professional stage again. The female lead obviously has ability (confident with accent) but was directed into some excrutiating ham acting which entertained the family audience but I am afraid I could not find merit in this production. But amateur theatre is alive and well in Cape Town and the community is well supported. Trust you guys did make some money. Thanks for all the other great shows.

Wonderful show with such talented actors! Thoroughly enjoyed.

Brilliant!!!! I'm bringing my niece from Australia and i'm seeing it again with her on Saturday

Excellent show. Wonderful performances. Loved the variety of two short shows.

After a slow, uncertain start the actors warmed up and in the end delivered realistic performances. The addition of a "peasant woman" was a nice touch. Pity the theatre wasn't full! Should have been...

Really good show x very funny x great evenings entertainment!

No stars simply zero! One does not like to see theatre fail so badly but this was an abomination of poor interpretation and pure 'rape' of a classic text ignoring or simply unable to understand the themes. Both stories were excruciating - the director completely missed the dramatic suspence which is the pivot to the comedy in both pieces. I have in all honesty never seen anything so poorly staged (unimaginative and pedestrian) on Alexander stage. The Louka character in The Bear was unacceptable and transposing The Proposal into a hill-billy charade was a cop out! The male lead has imitation ability but no ability to engage with emotion and clearly should not appear on a professional stage again. The female lead obviously has ability (confident with accent) but was directed into some excrutiating ham acting which entertained the family audience but I am afraid I could not find merit in this production. But amateur theatre is alive and well in Cape Town and the community is well supported. Trust you guys did make some money. Thanks for all the other great shows.