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 new-found 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.
(Summary from Wikipedia, edited by Elizabeth Klett)

Cast:

Mme. Ranevsky: Ruth Golding
Anya: Arielle Lipshaw
Varya: Elizabeth Klett
Gaev: Lars Rolander
Lopakhin: Andy Minter
Trofimov: mb
Simeonov-Pischin: Denny Sayers
Charlotta: Anna Simon
Epikhodov: hefyd
Dunyasha: Tricia G
Fiers: om123
Yasha: Kim Stich
Tramp: Musicalheart1
Narrator: David Lawrence

Audio edited by: Elizabeth Klett

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