Description
By: Anton Chekhov (1860-1904)
The Cherry Orchard is a captivating play that delves into themes of social change, loss, and the passage of time. Set in Russia in the early 20th century, the story follows a family who is on the brink of losing their beloved cherry orchard due to financial struggles. The characters are complex and multifaceted, each grappling with their own hopes, fears, and desires.
Chekhov’s writing is both poignant and insightful, capturing the melancholy of a changing world and the bittersweet inevitability of moving forward. The play is filled with moments of humor and heartbreak, painting a vivid portrait of a society in flux. The Cherry Orchard is a timeless classic that continues to resonate with audiences today, offering a powerful exploration of love, loss, and the complexities of the human experience.
Book Description:
The Cherry Orchard is Russian playwright Anton Chekhov’s last play. It premiered at the Moscow Art Theatre 17 January 1904 in a production directed by Constantin Stanislavski. Chekhov intended this play as a comedy and it does contain some elements of farce; however, Stanislavski insisted on directing the play as a tragedy. Since this initial production, directors have had to contend with the dual nature of this play. The play concerns an aristocratic Russian woman and her family as they return to the family’s estate (which includes a large and well-known cherry orchard) just before it is auctioned to pay the mortgage. The story presents themes of cultural futility — both the futility of the aristocracy to maintain its status and the futility of the bourgeoisie to find meaning in its newfound materialism. In reflecting the socio-economic forces at work in Russia at the turn of the 20th century, including the rise of the middle class after the abolition of serfdom in the mid-19th century and the sinking of the aristocracy, the play reflects forces at work around the globe in that period.
