Cherry Orchard Review

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at the auction, Anya is quick to explain to her mother that this is simply the beginning of their new, more adventure life. Where they wont be tied down to the estate and they can go wherever they want now.

Dianne Lane’s performance as Lyobov Ranevskaya was a little less than impressive. It seemed very one-dimensional and very over-dramatic. I understand Chekov plays demand to be performed in a melodramatic style, but her tremendous energy did not match the rest of the cast which was off-putting. She played the role of a damaged and scared woman very well, but her maternal side did not come through. This is probably the only aspect of the show that weakened the experience.

Another interesting feature in the show was the live band which was located in the stage left box seats on the lower level. They played before, during, and even on stage at times. They also provided all of the sound effects. It was a trio consisting of a percussionist, an oboe player, and a cellist. In a scene where Lyubov throws a costume party on the night that the orchard is sold, they musicians appear on stage as if they were hired to play music for the party.

Overall, my expectations were met and I left the show satisfied with my decision to see this show rather than something else. The professionalism expected from a Broadway show was definitely there and I enjoyed the atmosphere. Although the acting fell short in a few occasions, the story was portrayed well and it became one of my favorite classic plays.

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