The Proposal and the Bear

"The Proposal and the Bear" is a 1968 Australian television play, based on two stories by Anton Chekhov, The Marriage Proposal and The Bear. They were filmed in the ABC's Melbourne studios using the same cast for two plays.

Plot

"The Bear" – a woman, although desperate for a husband, fights with her only suitor.
"The Proposal" – a widow is challenged to a duel by a rough farmer

Cast

Gerda Nicolson
Terry Norris as Chubukov / Smirnov
Dennis Olsen

Reception

The newspaper, the Sydney Morning Herald said the show "required goodwill in the viewer to force the fun. It's not what-you do but the "verve with, which you do it — at least, in farce."