The
Cherry Orchard
by Anton Checkhov
This
page is a guide to the style of The Cherry Orchard
in performance. Included is basic history, a props list, pictures
from past productions, and other information to help sponsor
creativity about turn of the century Russia and the play itself.
Click on the following links to get an overview, including links
to other sites with useful information
The story centers around the Gayev household, aristocrats who do not see that the aristocracy is dying, and thier friends. Though Checkhov thought of it as a comedy and did not believe in preaching his own opinions in his writing, The Cherry Orchard presents two views of the social turmoil of the turn of the century. The Bolshevik Revolution was just around the corner, and the aristocracy, as seen especially in the character of Ranevskaya, was reluctant to see that their world was changing--and their money was disappearing. Even if he wasn't preaching, Checkhov's story can easily be interpreted as forshadowing the Revolution.
First Performance: 1904
Other
Performances
About
the Playwright
History--Peasants, Land owners,
Czars. The road to revolution.
Architecture and Style--Russia at the turn of the century
This page created by
Andrea Schoeneberger
for a class at Trinity University
for Steve Gilliam
created December 1998