Lynn Belvedere

THE CHERRY ORCHARD @ The Depot Theatre MARRICKVILLE

THE CHERRY ORCHARD 63 THE CHERRY ORCHARD 58

Admirers of the great Russian playwright, on seeing Julia Baz’s  very impressive production of Anton Chekhov’s masterpiece THE CHERRY ORCHARD, will appreciate the discerning casting, costumes, and mood enhancing lighting.

Best of all is the clean fresh look of the production, that cleverly takes full advantage of the L-shaped seating layout.

This poignant, classic tragedy is about torment and suffering in a time of change. All the performances are crisp, sharp and coherent. Within the narrative threads there are elements of farce and comedy.

Set in the late 1890s in Imperial Russia, amid the turmoil of social and political change, the story unfolds of a debt ridden aristocratic Russian woman and her family who are living beyond their means. On their immense country estate located outside Moscow, their famous and beloved cherry orchard, is the pride of the region. Time passes, wealth disappears, and these foolish, vain idle-rich choose to ignore their inevitable eviction.

This bittersweet story is all about the day to day interactions of each of its characters, and the actors successfully mine the rich vein of social humour, always focusing on the sub-text within Chekov’s script. With this play we are witnessing the decline of the Russian upper class and their way of life, and they all will soon be swept out of history by the Russian revolution.

Running time 130 minutes including one interval.

The Depot Theatre Company’s inaugural production, Anton Chekhov’s THE CHERRY ORCHARD is playing the Depot Theatre, 142 Addison Road, Marrickville until Saturday 1st August. Performance times Wednesdays to Saturdays 8pm, Sundays 5pm. Website:-  http://thedepottheatre.com/whats-on

Cast:-

Jane Angharad (CHARLOTTA), Anne Brito (DUNYASHA), Myles Burgin (YEPIKHODOV), Leo Domigan (GAYEV), David Jeffrey (LOPAKHIN), Justine Kacir (VERYA), Theo Kokkinidis (PISHCHIK), Dave Kirkham (TROFIMOV), Emily McGowan (ANYA), Roger Smith (FIRS), James Smithers (YASHA), Cherrie Whalen-David (RANEVSKAYA)

Creatives:-

Director Julie Baz
Set Designer David Jeffrey
Lighting Designer Larry Kelly
Costume Designer Lisa Washburn
Sound Designer Julie Baz
Stage Manager Cherilyn Price
Technical Operator Tennessee Baz-Jeffrey

Published by Lynn Belvedere

Once we were old enough, my parents took the whole family to the Sydney CBD cinemas every week. Thus began a lifetime interest, in going to the cinema every week, and became a passionate cinephile by watching all those very heavily edited ''Australian Film Censorship Board'' true cinéaste versions of brand new release ''Cinematograph Films''. Greater Union always gave my father (who worked in Cinema Distribution Exhibition) guest double movie passes, to every first-night ''red carpet Opening Night'' at The State Theatre Cinema at 49 Market Street. Up until his death, my dad always received ''two house seats'' for every Opening Night performance events at the Theatre Royal SYDNEY and at Her Majesty's Theatre SYDNEY. As a child, when mum choose not to go, I often went with him, to those live performance events. As a young child, I remember being taken for each new show, at both The New Theatre at 60 Sussex Street, and the Phillip Street Theatre when located at 150 Elizabeth Street, and for classical music concerts at Sydney Town Hall. = = = ★★★★★ = = = Being happy is a choice, and I have always viewed my life, as material ready be made into a series of amazing tentpole movies. My New Years Resolution is kept every year: ''Get to see/review five new live theatre shows each week, and get to see/review six new cinema movies each week'', plus is one of the Australian Cinema Pioneers, and apparently have seen far too much already, but always wanting to experience more and more each year. I am also able to do almost everything that I enjoy doing. Yes, I do have a great daytime job in I.T. as ''Software Design Project Manager'', PLUS each evening until quite late - - - Australian Cinematograph Films historical censorship consultant - product-placement consultant - mystery-shopper consultant - playwright, writer, author, director, producer, photographer, cinematographer, color-grader, subtitles proofreader - arts/ drama/ music/ film critic and judge, journalist, member FIPRESCI & FCCA & AFCA, member AACTA accredited film reviewer-critic-writer, accredited IMDB.COM critic-reviewer-author, projectionist, plus an innovative iconoclast - - - ★★★★★ LYNN BELVEDERE ★★★★★ - - - [usr 5] - - -