Chekhov's final play, "The Cherry Orchard" is a play that seems often to get overtones both of his ensuing death and the Russian Revolution shortly after - though in many ways it's more a comedy about people failing to live up to their responsibilities judging those around them able to manage better - about desperation, debt, saying goodbye to the past, about those hurt by the failures of the wealthy and those who find themselves able to overcome it. Eamon Flack's production feels nicely autumnal, on a minimalist set that finds clever ways to shift emphasis. It's performed by a strong multiracial ensemble of performers, with clever choices throughout to bring Chekov's melencholic tone across, with comedy, lust, romance and failures throughout to keep us intrigued. It's a longish evening (2 hrs 35) but handles the pace well, with all the little moments that tell so much about the characters highlighted.
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