The Cherry Orchard by Anton Chekhov

Lisbon Players' major autumn production of 1999 was The Cherry Orchard (O Jardim de Cerejas), by Anton Chekhov, in a new version in English by Jonathan Weightman, who also directs.

This classic masterpiece of Russian theatre was first produced by the renowned Moscow Art Theatre under the direction of Constantin Stanislavsky in 1904. Chekhov called his last play a comedy, and while much of the play is indeed comic, it also has moments of great poignancy and even tragedy.

The play's basic plot revolves around the loss of the country estate of the feckless but endearing Gayev family, including their beautiful and prized cherry orchard. However, the real interest in the play lies in the way the fascinating gallery of characters relate to each other and how they confront the inevitability of change and the disruption of their lives.

The impulsive and passionate landowner called back by her brutal and drunken lover in Paris; the bitter adopted daughter who wants to be a nun; the brother who makes spee ches to the furniture; the ventriloquist governess brought up in the circus; the sensitive maid who wants to be a lady; the clumsy clerk with his squeaky boots; the opportunist valet who breaks all the girls' hearts; the old boy who thinks he's descended from a horse... laugh and cry with Chekhov's wonderful creations while they talk, they drink, they dance, they fall in and out of love ... all in the face of the impending catastrophe

Directed by Jonathan Weigthman