The Cherry Orchard − Learning Pack Contents
About This Pack ...... 1
Background Information ...... 2
Teaching Information ...... 3
Plot Synopsis with Timecodes ...... 5
Find Out More...... 12
1 The Cherry Orchard − Learning Pack
About
This learning pack supports the National Theatre’s production of The Cherry Orchard, directed by Howard Davies, which opened on 18th May 2011 at the National’s Olivier Theatre in London.
Our packs are designed to support viewing the recording on the National Theatre Collection. This pack provides links to the UK school curriculum and other productions in the Collection. It also has a plot synopsis with timecodes to allow you to jump to specific sections of the play.
1 The Cherry Orchard − Learning Pack Background Information Recording Date – 30th June, 2011 Location – Olivier Theatre, National Theatre Age Recommendation – 12+
Cast Dunyasha ...... Emily Taaffe Lopakhin ...... Conleth Hill Anya ...... Pip Carter Ranyevskaya ...... Charity Wakefield Varya...... Zoë Wanamaker Gaev ...... Claudie Blakley Charlotta ...... James Laurenson Simyonov-Pishchik ...... Tim McMullan Yasha ...... Gerald Kyd Firs ...... Kenneth Cranham Petya Trofimov ...... Mark Bonnar A Passer-by...... Craige Els The Station master...... Paul Dodds Ensemble...... Mark Fleischmann Ensemble...... Colin Haigh Ensemble...... Jessica Regan Ensemble...... Tim Samuels Ensemble...... Stephanie Thomas Ensemble...... Joseph Thompson Ensemble...... Rosie Thomson Ensemble...... Ellie Turner
Creative Team Director ...... Howard Davies Author ...... Anton Chekhov Adaptor ...... Andrew Upton Designer ...... Bunny Christie Lighting Designer ...... Neil Austin Music ...... Dominic Muldowney Sound Designer ...... Paul Groothuis Choreographer ...... Lynne Page
2 The Cherry Orchard − Learning Pack Teaching Information
This production is particularly suitable for:
• Drama and theatre students studying the play for A ‘Level. • Students studying 19th century drama, including the work of Anton Chekhov. • Drama and theatre students studying Constantin Stanislavski as a theatre practitioner.
In particular you might like to explore:
• Andrew Upton’s adaptation, in particular his use of contemporary language and how this impacts on the social, historical and political context of the play. • How the set and costume design help to create the world of the play
3 The Cherry Orchard − Learning Pack Teaching Information
There are a number of other productions in the National Theatre Collection that relate to this one, which you and your students may wish to explore alongside it.
Other 20th century classics
Production Date Playwright Director The Deep Blue Sea 2016 Terence Rattigan Carrie Cracknell
Les Blancs 2013 Lorraine Hansberry Yaël Farber Yerma 2017 Federico García Lorca Simon Stone
Other productions featuring members of the same creative team
Production Date Artist Julius Caesar 2018 Bunny Christie - Designer
King Lear 2011 Neil Austin - Lighting Designer
London Assurance 2010 Neil Austin - Lighting Designer
She Stoops to Conquer 2012 Neil Austin - Lighting Designer Dara 2015 Neil Austin - Lighting Designer
4 The Cherry Orchard − Learning Pack Plot Synopsis With Timecodes
ACT ONE - Winter in the estate of Lyubov Andreyevna Ranyevskaya at the turn of the 20th Century: Dunyasha, the maid, nervously awaits the arrival of Lyubov Andreyevna Ranyevskaya and her daughter, Anya, who have been away for five years. Yermolai Alekseyevich Lopakhin, a wealthy merchant whose ancestors were once serfs on Ranyevskaya’s estate, and Firs, the servant, also wait.
(0:06:31) The train is late but Ranyevskaya, Anya, the governess Charlotta and a footman Yasha, finally arrive. Ranyevskaya’s brother Gaev attends the luggage. Family and friends are overjoyed to be reunited at the Estate. Characters come and go as Dunyasha reveals to Anya that Yepihodov, the Estate Manager, has proposed to her.
(0:08:59) Varya, Ranyevskaya’s adopted older daughter, enters. Left alone Anya tells Varya of the dire financial circumstances their mother endured in Paris. They also discuss a potential engagement between Varya and Lopakhin, but Varya insists that, as a busy merchant, he does not have time for her. Anya recalls why Ranyevskaya left the estate five years before: her husband died, and her seven-year-old son drowned a
5 The Cherry Orchard − Learning Pack Plot Synopsis With Timecodes
month later. Anya is concerned that when the boy's former tutor, Petya Trofimov, who has been living on the estate, comes to greet Ranyevskaya on her return, it will bring back terrible memories for their mother.
(0:15:06) Ranyevskaya, Gaev, and their friend Simyonov-Pishchik get reacquainted while Anya goes to bed. Ranyevskaya is overjoyed at being home. Lopakhin joins the conversation; he tells them that due to the financial problems the cherry orchard will be put up for auction in a few months, but he has a plan to save it. Ranyevskaya and Gaev can generate income by cutting down the orchard and building holiday homes. Ranyevskaya and Gaev are appalled at the suggestion. Gaev enters into a long speech about the significance of the old furniture. Lopakhin urges them to make a decision soon before leaving.
(0:29:11) Pishchik asks for money to pay his debts, but Varya says they have nothing to give. Ranyevskaya, Varya and Gaev look out over the orchard and continue to reminisce.
(0:32:22) Trofimov enters and Ranyevskaya is immediately overcome with emotion at the memory of her drowned son. She is amazed at how old Trofimov looks. Pishchik continues to ask for money and all apart from Gaev and Varya leave. Anya enters. They continue to discuss the dire financial situation. Gaev makes suggestions from utilising a rich great-Aunt, borrowing from a bank and marrying off Anya. He swears the estate will not be sold. Trofimov reveals tender feelings for Anya as the act ends.
ACT TWO - Outdoors near the orchard, in mid-summer (0:44:48): Yasha, Dunyasha, Charlotta and Yepihodov gather outside. Yepihodov sings, awkwardly declaring his love for Dunyasha. Charlotta says she knows almost nothing of her past before her and Yepihodov leave. Alone, Dunyasha declares her love for Yasha. They kiss and flirt.
6 The Cherry Orchard − Learning Pack Plot Synopsis With Timecodes
(0:53:47) Ranyevskaya, Gaev, and Lopakhin arrive discussing the possible fate of the cherry orchard. She and Gaev refuse to lease the land. Lopakhin is exasperated, knowing this plan is the only way to save the estate. Still Ranyevskaya and Gaev do nothing. The conversation turns to the past, and Ranyevskaya recounts horrible experiences: a man she loved took advantage of her, leaving her with no money. She resorted to trying to kill herself.
(1:02:20) They hear some distant music and Ranyevskaya suggests holding a dance. She notes Lopakhin lack of refinement, and he admits that he is an uneducated peasant whose father beat him, but has become rich through hard work. She suggests he marry Varya. Firs enters with Gaev's overcoat, complaining that when the serfs were set free, he did not want to go. Gaev leaves to seek a loan from a general.
(1:05:50) Trofimov, Anya and Varya enter. Trofimov gives a speech condemning the Russian intellectual elite for their shallowness and mistreatment of the poor classes.
7 The Cherry Orchard − Learning Pack Plot Synopsis With Timecodes
(1:14:28) Gaev rambles incoherently again, before they hear the sound of a cable breaking far off. A shabby stranger suddenly enters. He asks for money, making everyone uneasy. Ranyevskaya gives the passer-by money, which distresses everyone as her family's own servants have nothing to eat. Trofimov and Anya are left alone. He thrills her with talk of a new future of greater social equality without the cherry orchard and the oppression it represents. They share a tender moment and leave together. Interval
ACT THREE - at the estate in August (1:27:02): They failed to raise the money to save th orchard, and everyone expect for Lopakhin and Gaev, who are at the auction, gather at Ranyevskaya’s home for a dance. They wait anxiously for word of what has happened. Charlotta entertains them all by performing various magic tricks, and Pishchik becomes enamoured with her. They all exit.
(1:35:51) Ranyevskaya worries to Varya and Trofimov about Lopakhin and Gaev's absence. Varya tries to assure her that Gaev has bought the estate with a loan from their great aunt. Varya is frustrated because she would like to marry Lopakhin but must wait for him to ask her. She exits.
8 The Cherry Orchard − Learning Pack Plot Synopsis With Timecodes
(1:37:50) Trofimov describes his and Anya’s romance as ‘higher than love’; irritating Ranyevskaya. He demands that she face the truth of her situation with the cherry orchard. She shows him a telegram she has received from Paris and reveals that her former lover is ill again and has begged for her to return to aid him. Trofimov is stunned at this news and the two argue about the nature of love. Insulted, Trofimov leaves, but in doing so falls down the stairs.
(1:45:14) One of the guests, the Station Master, recites a poem called "The Sinner" in the ballroom. Ranyevskaya and Trofimov (who has recovered from the fall) reconcile and dance together. Anya enters, saying there is a rumour the orchard has been sold. Dunyasha tries to woo Yasha but he is dismissive, and Yepihodov sulks because Dunyasha jilting him.
(1:55:06) Lopakhin and Gaev enter with news that the orchard sold, and Lopakhin was the buyer. Lopakhin is gleeful, calling it recompense for the treatment of his father and grandfather, who were serfs on the estate. He declares he will tear down the orchard for holiday homes, for ‘everyone to come and enjoy’. Ranyevskaya weeps as Lopakhin tells her she should have listened to him. Anya tries to comfort her mother.
ACT FOUR - October; the family’s belongings are packed away (2:05:29): The family are preparing to leave. Lopakhin offers them champagne as a parting gift, but Gaev and Ranyevskaya decline. Trofimov and Lopakhin have a final discussion of Trofimov's vision of a revolutionary future. Trofimov is heading to Moscow, and Lopakhin offers him some money to help him on his journey. Trofimov refuses it. Anya enters and asks Lopakhin to hold off cutting the orchard down until they have left. Trofimov and Lopakhin rush out to stop the workers in time.
(2:11:24) Dunyasha confronts Yasha one last time but he cruelly
9 The Cherry Orchard − Learning Pack Plot Synopsis With Timecodes
dismisses her. Gaev and Ranyevskaya remark that even though they are devastated, the future looks clearer. Gaev is taking a job with a bank.
(2:15:12) Charlotta enters, lost and in a daze, and insists that the family find her a new position. Lopakhin promises to find her a job. Pishchik arrives to announce that he has leased his property and can start to pay his debts. He is emotional and hysterical, and leaves in a daze.
(2:20:04) Ranyevskaya gives Lopakhin one final chance to propose to Varya, but he fails to do so. He awkwardly speaks to her about trivial matters and then leaves. She sobs quietly. She is now forced to become a housekeeper for a nearby family. Trofimov and Anya leave positively, excited for their new life. Ranevskaya and Gaev tearfully bid their old lives goodbye and leave as the house is shut up.
10 The Cherry Orchard − Learning Pack Plot Synopsis With Timecodes
(2:29:20) The sound of axes cutting down the orchard are heard. The ill and forgotten Firs enters, whom the family thought had been taken to hospital. He is locked inside the boarded-up house. He falls down and lies there to die full of life regrets, calling himself a ‘fool’.
The End
11 The Cherry Orchard − Learning Pack
Find out more
Read
The Rehearsal Insights Pack, featuring rehearsal room notes from the production, written by Staff Director James Bounds and including an interview with Director Howard Davies.
Watch
An Introduction to The Cherry Orchard
An Introduction to Anton Chekhov
The inspiration for Bunny Christie’s design
Acting in The Cherry Orchard
Explore
More materials relating to the production including the costume bible, costume designs, prompt scripts, programme, stage management reports and more are held at the National Theatre Archive, which is free to visit. Find out more here: https://www.nationaltheatre.org.uk/archive
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