OPENING to a full house the Phnom Penh Players performed their latest

production, two short plays called The Proposal and A Jubilee, written by Anton

Chekhov and directed by Gary Stodel.

The Proposal was about an aging

wealthy man deciding the complex question of whether or not he should pop the

question. The Jubilee focused on a bank director attempting to make preparations

for the smooth celebration of the bank's fifteenth anniversary despite numerous

distractions.

Most patrons seemed to enjoy the performances which ran

over two nights at the Royal Phnom Penh Hotel on July 15-16. Tickets sold for

$15 including dinner.

One theater patron, who admits to being no drama

critic, said: "The understated British presentation of the classic Tolstoy

satirical comedy was superb. Fred Longman's superb accent added a profound

dimension to the Russian characterizations, but personally I prefer the

footy."

Katherine Bourke, who played Natalyia Stepanovna, the would-be

bride, said she enjoyed the relaxed Phnom Penh atmosphere.

She said: "If

you fluff your lines people laugh all the more. It's been really good fun with

the crowd having a good time and a good laugh."

This is the Players fifth

production since the group was formed to entertain the community and help for

charity by Bill Lobban and Vicky Rogers in June 1992.

The plays take

approximately three months to prepare and a production is held every six months.