The Cherry Orchard portrays human complexities
Starship Troopers... or Starship Bloopers?
The Cherry Orchard portrays human complexities
by Antonia GiedwoynDisillusionment, gaiety, and loneliness are a few elements in the kaleidoscope of emotions found in this fall's mainstage play, "The Cherry Orchard." Set in turn-of-the-century Russia, Anton Chekhov's play addresses a variety of themes including the individual's response to reality, the human tendency towards self-absorption, and the difficulty of enduring change.
Director Stephanie Arnold explained, "Although this is a period play about the problems of displaced people at the turn of the century, it translates immediately into our own times— it feels very contemporary." After viewing a dress rehearsal, I must agree that despite the play's time frame, the show does indeed retain a contemporary feel by virtue of Chekhov's ability to transcend generations exposing universal human sentiments.
"We are caught in such rapidly moving times," Arnold said, "that we are no better than Chekhov's characters at comprehending what's going on around us." According to Arnold, "The Cherry Orchard" demonstrates how humans tend to be self-absorbed; it brings up how often we experience difficulty reaching out to others and actually hearing what they are saying.
"Humans talk a lot about love and relationships, but in reality we are more concerned with ourselves— and nothing has changed," Arnold said.
Several cast members offered their perspectives on the production and the playwright's meaning. Junior Brian Gurski, who plays the role of Gayev (Leonid Andreyevich), said that an unshakeable capitalistic force permeates the play, helping to depict the sad fact that "things can be swept away so easily, and justified so normally. "The Cherry Orchard" can be incredibly sad, and slapstick ridiculous. Both components are present here, just as in life. That's what makes this such a strong and human play."
Other cast members also shared a few words regarding the play's multi-faceted quality. Shawn Kilburn, as the part of Semyonov-Pishchick, said that Chekhov's play "captures a failure to connect on so many levels," and cast members Erin Renfroe and Jenny Deller said that part of what they appreciate about the play is the fact that there are no good guy/bad guy characters; each character is realistically complex.
"It's really refreshing to perform Chekhov rather than just read him," Renfroe said. Nodding, Deller added, "Chekhov truly comes to life when you perform his work on stage."
Although the show runs over two hours in length, the sensitive performances convincingly delivered by Gurski and Renfroe, as well as the more plainly amusing character portraits rendered by Kilburn and Laurel Garcia ensure a highly interesting and reflective show. The obvious talent of the entire cast, and the ease with which they work together as an ensemble makes this fall's tragic-comic "The Cherry Orchard" a pleasure to watch.
