Just in time for the holiday season, ACTORS is presenting two one-act plays by two classic playwrights. “Village Wooing,” by George Bernard Shaw, and “A Marriage Proposal,” by Anton Chekov, open Friday at ACTORS Studio in Ames.

Both shows are romantic comedies that take on courtship with a clever wit.

Kathy Divine, member of the play selection committee, said the two plays were selected in the interest of putting on a well-balanced season.

“Last year we did a big Christmas show; the year before we did two one acts,” Divine said. “We decided to alternate between the two [formats].”

She added that performing the plays they picked “lets us do two literary giants, two classic playwrights.”

Directing “The Marriage Proposal” is Karl Koch, who appeared last season as Scrooge in a Christmas Carol. In the past, Koch has directed for University Lutheran Theatre, but this will be his first time directing for ACTORS.

“The Marriage Proposal” involves a young man who comes to propose marriage to a young woman. The personalities of the man, the woman, and her mother combine to confuse the situation.

“Good intentions get all mixed up when stubborn ways get in the way of what the young man came to do,” Koch said. “Trivial arguments lead to hilarious conclusions.”

The cast includes Andrea Schrock as the young woman, James Phillips as the young man, and Ruthellen Cunnally as her mother. Traditionally the woman’s father is the third character, however for this production Koch decided to do a role reversal.

The show has been rehearsing for five weeks, and Koch said he is pleased with how the show is doing.

“Working on this project was great for me,” Koch said. “I’ve had three really wonderful actors to work with. Last night I told them that I could put an audience in front of them right now and be happy.”

One of the challenges for the designers of the shows was to create a set that would function for both productions.

“It’s a very flexible set, but very clever,” he said. “It adds a lot to the production.”

Divine, who is directing “Village Wooing,” said the show is about a romance between two unlikely partners. The story unfolds across three scenes: the first on a cruise ship, the second in a village shop, and the last on the veranda of a country estate.

Divine is excited to be directing a piece by Shaw, who was a socialist, a feminist and a political activist in addition to being a playwright.

“Students of literature will love the show,” Divine said, “It’s very typical Shaw. For our day, even he’d be very progressive. All his political and social views are in the play. It is thick with Shawian wit.”

Divine said this show has been different than any other show she has worked with.

“[With] this play, beyond all others, we’ve debated and talked a lot because every line is so rich,” Divine explained. “We could do it one way or another. Either way is entertaining, we’re searching for the way the author intended.”

Although the show is rich with social and political commentary, Divine said that it is also very entertaining.

“We’re trying to present the show as something a contemporary audience can enjoy and learn from,” Divine said.

Koch, who plays the male character in “Village Wooing,” has enjoyed working with Shaw’s rich text.

“A lot of the ideas Shaw has are ideas I share,” Koch said. “It’s a different role, a much more reflective kind of character. It’s fun working through and finding out at what point does it click — at what point does the wooing begin.

“Hopefully it will be a show where people will take some quotes home and think about them,” Koch said.

Although both shows have been very demanding, Divine said she is proud of the end result.

“We’re up to the challenge [of these shows],” Divine said. “We have very smart actors and smart designers.”

“Village Wooing” and “A Marriage Proposal” will be performed Dec. 4, 5, 11, and 12 at 8 p.m. and Dec. 6 and 13 at 2 p.m. All performances are at ACTORS Studio at 120 Abraham Drive.

Tickets are $9 for students and $10 general admission and are available at John Huber Clothier or at the box office one hour before each show.