The Ottawa School of Theatre’s Orléans Old Player class tapped into their inner comedian on Saturday to deliver a pair of Anton Chekov short stories in the Richcraft Theatre at the Shenkman Arts Centre with truly hysterical results.

The first of the two productions was The Proposal featuring Chantal Burtt as the suitor, Louis Richard; Jowita Wilk as the object of his affection, Marjorie Josephine; and Bard Cram as Marjorie Josephine’s mother, Marion Mildred. The play also included appearances by Francine Hopley as the maid and Robb Corrigan as the mower.

The Orléans Older Players production of 'The Proposal' features Chantal Burrt as Louis Richard (lef), Barb Cram as Marion Mildred and Jowita Wilk as Marjorie Josephine (right). Fred Sherwin/Photo

The Proposal was written as a vaudevillian farce. Louis Richard is a hypochondriac who has come to ask Marjorie Josephine for her hand in marriage, not because he loves, but because he is getting older and is in need of a wife.

After he first gets permission from her mother, Marion Mildred, Marjorie Josephine enters the room, but before he can pop the question they get into an argumemnt over the ownership of a piece of land known as the Oxen Meadow.

Suffice it to say that Louis Richard is convinced the property is his, while Marjorie Josephine is equally convinced it is hers. Soon Louis Richard is oblivious to his original intention for his visit and he leaves in a huff, upset that the ladies will not recognize his claim of ownership and suffering from a variety of maladies including heart palpitations and numbness in his leg.

It’s not until after he’s gone that Marjorie learns of his original intention from her mother. Hysterical, she demands that her mother bring him back.

Once back in the house, they begin to argue again and this time Louis Richard gets so worked up he collapses on the sofa sending Marjorie Josephine, thinking he’s dead, into hysterics once again. He eventually comes to and finally proposes to Marjorie Josephine with the help of her mother who gets them to seal their union with a kiss.

All three performances were wonderful, but Chantal Burtt was especially on point as Louis Richard. She delivered her lines with aplomb and she was physically very funny.

The second production, entitled The Wedding, involved the entire class. The play revolves around a family of modest means whose daughter has been promised to be betrothed to a man whose only interest appears to be her dowry.

As part of the wedding, the groom insists that his friend, the General, be allowed to give a speech. During his dissertation he begins to start rabbling about what happens when a sailing ship is in distress.

As it turns out, the General is actually a captain who the bride’s mother thought she paid $25 for as an appearance fee. He never received the money, which was given to an agent, and the ensuing scandal ruins the proceedings.

The entire cast and especially Rob Corrigan and Francine Hopley, who play the captain and the mother of the bride respectively, were brilliant.

The Ottawa School of Theatre offers several adult classes throughout the year which culminate in a staged prodcution. You can find out more by visiting their website at www.ost-eto.ca.