The Cherry Orchard [Paperback]

Frayn's translation, which strikes me as splendidly lucid and alive...will be acted again and again (New Statesman)


In Chekhov's tragi-comedy - perhaps his most popular play - the Gayev family is torn by powerful forces deeply rooted in history and the society in which they live. Their estate is hopelessly in debt and when urged to cut down their beautiful cherry orchard and sell the land for holiday cottages, they are confronted by an impossible decision. At the time when The Cherry Orchard was written, the years before the revolution of 1905, Chekhov considered revolution in Russia irreversible and desirable. (Melchinger: Anton Chekhov)

The beautiful estate of a once proud Russian aristocratic family is auctioned off to the son of a peasant who has succeeded in industry.Anton Chekhov (1860-1904) first turned to writing as a medical student at Moscow University, from which he graduated in 1884. Among his early plays were short monologues (The Evils of Tobacco, 1885), one-act farces such asThe Bear,The ProposalandThe Wedding(1888-89) and the 'Platonov' material, adapted by Michael Frayn asWild Honey. The first three full-length plays to be stage,Ivanov(1887),The Wood Demon(1889) andThe Seagull(1896) were initially failures. But the Moscow Arts Theatre's revival ofThe Seagulltwo years later was successful and was followed by his masterpieces,Uncle Vanya(1889),Three Sisters(1901), andThe Cherry Orchardin 1904, the year of his death.

Frayn's translation, which strikes me as splendidly lucid and alive...will be acted again and again New Statesman

Chekhov's play about feckless extravagance and looming disaster Charles Spencer, Daily Telegraph, 21.10.10