Carmody and Jones

Anton Chekov’s “The Bear”: A Rehearsed Reading

September 12, 2011 by Dermot Carmody

This week Carmody & Jones depart from their usual musical comedy stylings and join with actress, singer and comedian Tara Flynn and director Brendan Ellis to present a rehearsed reading of Anton Chekov’s one-act play “The Bear” as part of Ranelagh Fest 2011.

ANton Chekov

Anton Chekov

About “The Bear”

Yelena Ivanova Popova (Tara Flynn) has been a dimple-cheeked study of mourning since her feckless, unfaithful husband died a year ago.

Faithful retainer Luka (Morgan C. Jones) pleads with Popova in vain to rejoin the outside world, where there are offices “like sugar plums” ripe for the picking, before her beauty fades.

Popova’s mourning is rudely interrupted when Grigory Stepanovich Smirnov (Dermot Carmody) barges in loudly and intemperately demanding immediate payment of a debt owed to him by Popova’s late husband.

This Bear of a man needs money like crazy and will brook no refusal. Popova is a lady resolute and immovable in her determined grieving.

Something’s got to give.

Performance Details

The rehearsed reading of Chekov’s “The Bear” will take place at the Village Market, Ranelagh on Thursday September 15 at 6.30pm, Friday September 16 at 6.30pm, Saturday September 17 at 4.30pm and Sunday September 17 at 6pm.

The show will begin with a reading of Chekov’s “On The Harmfulness Of Tobacco”.

Admission to the event is free, and the performers are giving their services free. Audience members may make a donation.

See here for the programme for Ranelagh Fest 2011.

Village Market Ranelagh Location


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