Opening Trinity Rep’s 43rd season will be Anton Chekhov’s "Cherry Orchard," in a new translation by Artistic Director Curt Columbus, who will also direct the production. Privilege, politics and family collide in the Russian master's final work, which opens in previews September 15 and runs through October 22 in the intimate Dowling Theater.

In this piece, the household is simmering with anticipation as Lovey returns to her Russian country home after five years in Paris. She must now face what the others already know – that the family is facing financial ruin. Their money is gone, the estate will soon be lost and all that remains is the cherry orchard.

On choosing this play to start his first season, Columbus states, “Chekhov writes plays for an actual ensemble of people to play. He's not writing starring roles - every single role is a starring role. That's the hallmark of a great Trinity show -- an ensemble of great actors.” 

He continued, "'Cherry Orchard' is really a play about a time like our time, where the people don't want to acknowledge that change is coming.  In the face of a sweeping change they stand still, wringing their hands and saying, 'But if we just keep holding on, things will all stay the same!' Think about what if this were to happen to someone like a Paris Hilton – someone who seems to be unaware of the fact that they are blessed with a certain kind of wealth. Now imagine that privileged life taken away suddenly — what would they be like? How rabidly would they cling to who they used to be? That's what 'Cherry Orchard' is all about."

The cast is led by Trinity Rep Company member Phyllis Kay in the central role of Lovey, along with Stephen Berenson, Angela Brazil, Barbara Meek, Brian McEleney, Anne Scurria, Fred Sullivan, Jr., Stephen Thorne, Joe Wilson, Jr. and Brown/Trinity Consortium students Nicholas Few, Crystal Finn, Jason Hart and Emily Young.

Director and translator Curt Columbus joined Trinity Rep as artistic director in January of 2006. He was the associate artistic director of Steppenwolf Theater Company from 2000-2005, where his translations of "Cherry Orchard "and "Uncle Vanya" were presented in the Upstairs Theatre. Other Steppenwolf credits include translating "Maria Arndt" and directing "The House of Lily," "Division Street: America" and "Our Town." He was also the artistic director of Chicago Park District’s Theater on the Lake and an artistic associate at Victory Gardens Theater from 1990-2006.
 
Anton Chekhov was born on January 17, 1860, near the Crimean Sea in Tanarog. His grandfather was a serf who had managed to buy his freedom; his father was a grocer. When his father's business failed, the family of eight moved to Moscow, and Chekhov attended the medical school at the University of Moscow. While in school, Chekhov began writing in order to provide some immediate financial support for his family. The four plays for which he is best known combine the elements of tragedy and dark comedy: "Seagull," "Uncle Vanya," "Three Sisters" and "Cherry Orchard" which premiered on Chekhov’s birthday in Moscow on January 17, 1904. Sadly, Chekhov died six months later of tuberculosis.

The first performance on September 15 at 8:00 p.m. is Pay What You Can sponsored by The Rhode Island Lottery. PWYC tickets go on sale at 7:00 p.m., with a limit of one per person. 
 
Trinity's post show talkbacks at last season’s production of "Hamlet" were such a success, the theater has scheduled them for the entire season. Audiences are invited to share their response to the play, the production, the themes — with the assurance that no topic is too high or low, no opinion is right or wrong. A company or staff member will host the talkback sessions for approximately twenty minutes after each show.

Tickets are on sale now at the Trinity Rep box office, 201 Washington Street; by phone at (401) 351-4242; and online at www.trinityrep.com.

-- OnStage Boston

08/24/06

 

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