The Cherry Orchard
Being honest, I was nervous about reviewing this, as I’d never seen The Cherry Orchard before, which for a theatre aficionado is a bit remiss! But I needn’t have been nervous; this was a very enjoyable evening’s entertainment, largely down to the performances, and also the very naturalistic adaptation.
First impressions, the set very effectively evoked decaying past grandeur. But it didn’t stop there. This was added to by the lighting and sound design. When Stephen Mangan’s Lopakhin and Megan Cusack’s Dunyasha enter the house at the start of the play, you can almost feel the cold, as the house awaits the returning occupants.
The actors were all very good. It felt like a great ensemble cast. But having said that, there was absolutely no doubt of the draw of Kristin Scott Thomas, who was luminous as Ranevskaya. Her central character needs to be magnetic to all those around her, and she is that, and more. Act 3 particularly gives her a chance to shine. She perfectly plays the faded grand lady, fearing what the future is going to bring, but powerless to stop the loss of her fortune and status.
I also really enjoyed Stephen Mangan's Lopakhin. His portrayal allowed for plenty of laughs, but played in a lowkey way, with the weight of the world on his rounded shoulders at times. You get the impression that his success from nowhere, perhaps at the cost of Ranevskaya and the family estate, is a regret for him, and his attempts to try and turn Madame’s fortune around falls on deaf ears. I felt it was a very nuanced performance. He played the sense of struggle and anger really nicely.
Ian Rickson’s direction carefully layers the energy, and it never becomes heavy going. The comedy is brought out appropriately, but also tailed back for the more emotional moments.
This adaptation by Conor McPherson uses modern, naturalist language, so this doesn’t feel old fashioned or ‘worthy’. And it is funnier than I expected it to be, but also very charming at times. This is especially so during Act 2 with the music and dancing.
Of the other actors, I really liked Vinette Robinson’s buttoned-up Varya and Megan Cusack as free spirited Dunyasha. There was a lovely contrast between them, but also a genuine warmth between both women. Megan especially gave her performance bags of energy, but both also brought the pathos. I also loved Jeff Rawle's persistent Pishchik, and Anastasia Martin's weary Anya.
Overall, there were good performances from everyone, in a thoroughly enjoyable revival.
This show was reviewed on the 14th October 2026 at the Harold Pinter Theatre, London where it runs until the 9th January 2027. Tickets available here: The Cherry Orchard | Official Box Office | Harold Pinter Theatre
Review written by Ruth Hawkins
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Photo credit : Johan Persson
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