THE CHERRY ORCHARD. To 30 March
Glasgow
THE CHERRY ORCHARD
by Anton Chekhov
Citizens Theatre To 30 March 2002
Tues-Sat 7:30
Runs 2hr
TICKETS 0141 429 0022
Review Thelma Good 8 March
A cherishable Cherry Orchard cut down to size but not reduced in blossom.After Dundee Rep’s Seagull we now have the Citz spring production of Chekhov’s Cherry Orchard (this summer Benchtours will tour their production). And theatre babel are doing Uncle Vanya soon - the Russian playwright appeals to Scottish directors. And not only directors; our actors and audiences find much to laugh with and muse over in these plays.
Though I saw Peter Stein’s acclaimed Cherry Orchard in the 1990’s, for me Prowse’s production is a more vibrant playing. Both John Jack’s young servant Yasha and Tam Dean Burn’s entrepreneur Lopakhin, are feisty stirrers up of Madame Ranevsky’s household. And Madame Ranevsky is rendered touching, and falling into age, in Georgina Hale’s portrayal - entering still vibrant off the Paris train and cut down to a hollow old stick by the play’s end. The aged, stumbling servant Firs is beautifully drawn by Leonard Kavanagh; the final scene with him locked forgotten in the sold mansion is powerful as the action quietly runs down.
Among the exotics of the piece are Charlotta the governess, full of delicious, Dietrich danger in her bow tie and tails, well suited to Anne Marie Timoney ‘s style, and Gaev, Madame Ranevsky’s brother, superbly played as a decadent dandy by Simon Dutton. Alexandar Mikic shows the full-power earnestness of the tutor forever studying at more and more universities; come the revolution you see he’ll get spread-eagled on the barricades with his head in a book. Prowse’s cast and his suggestive set, nearly devoid of furniture, give us the real fruity jam of Chekhov’s play as well as the refined spirit Stein achieved.
Madame Ranevsky: Georgina Hale
Gaev: Simon Dutton
Anya: Sarah Walton
Varia: Lucy Russell
Lopahkin: Tam Dean Burn
Trofimov: Alexsandar Mikic
Pishnik: Tristram Wymark
Charlotta: Anne Marie Timoney
Epihodov: Stewart Porter
Dunyasha: Debra Fine
Yasha: John Jack
Firs: Leonard Kavanagh
Traveller: Patrick Hannaway
Director/Designer: Philip Prowse
Lighting: Gerry Jenkinson
2002-03-17 11:52:10