The Cherry Orchard
I have always imagined that Russian plays would be quite dank and depressing to watch, for some reason, but The Cherry Orchard certainly breaks that mould. The latest production by the Royal Shakespeare Company in Stratford has been adapted by Laura Wade (writer of Home, I’m Darling and who recently adapted The Constant Wife for the RSC) from a translation of Anton Chekhov’s original text.
The story explores Ranyevskaya and Lopakhin’s conflict over the future of Madame Ranyevskaya’s beloved Cherry Orchard. As she returns from her five years of self-inflicted exile in Paris, after the death of her husband and young son, it becomes apparent that her money has all gone and the future of the cherry orchard is in jeopardy. Offering his help Lopakhin, the son of a serf whose family has worked on the estate for generations, insists that the only way to save the orchard is to sell it to the highest bidder. However, the house and the orchard hold so many memories for Ranyevskaya and her family that denial of the problem might just lead to them losing everything and to others gaining a new world.
The RSC have pulled out all the stops with casting this production, not only do they have classical acting favourite Kenneth Branagh on board, but they have also tempted Hollywood actors Helen Hunt and Bill Pullman across to the Stratford stage. Hunt plays Madame Ranyevskaya and is delightful in her portrayal of the naïve aristocracy. Her brother Gaev, played by Pullman, is a funny characterisation and he has a charmingly natural rapport with the other characters and with Hunt as his sibling.
Branagh as Lopakhin, shows a true range of abilities from amusing and silly to revengeful and retaliatory later in the piece. It’s a nice arc of storytelling that shapes the production well.
There are strong performances from all the cast, with particular mention’s going to Esther Smith as Varya, a natural and strong, relatable characterisation throughout her performance and Michael Elwyn as Firs, who brings the audiences empathy into his portrayal wonderfully.
Anna Fleischle’s set and costume design bring the cherry orchard to life and are framed beautifully by Aideen Malone’s lighting design. With Tamara Harvey’s direction completing a powerfully robust production, it’s easy to see why audiences are captivated by this interpretation of the story.
This is a wonderful production, showing us how the nostalgic stories we hold close to us might just stop us gaining the freedom of a much needed new life. Highly entertaining and well worth a visit to watch.
This show was reviewed on the 21st July at The RSC, Stratford upon Avon where it runs until the 29th August 2026. Tickets available here: The Cherry Orchard | Royal Shakespeare Company
Review written by Rachel Louise Martin
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Photo credit : Johan Persson
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