The Orchard (Tour – Salford)

This production premiered as part of Liverpool’s Capital of Culture 08 and was developed by the UK’s Kolectiv Theatre Company with Iran’s Bazi Theatre Company and Knjazevsko Srpski Teatar, Serbia.

Volatile aristocrat Ranyevskaya returns after years of self-imposed exile in Paris to discover that her home and beloved cherry orchard is to be auctioned to pay off the family debt. Opting to be ignorant of their financial situation, the family continue to live a lavish lifestyle, throwing parties, handing out money to other inept friends and refusing to listen to any suggestions that might avoid the selling of the family home and lands in this lackluster performance based on Chekhov’s much-loved play.

Starting in the bar, this production used a great deal of the studio space in the Lowry, including the staircase for a prolonged period and two of the large studios.However, traipsing around the building is not as exciting as it may seem, particularly as everyone takes a seat in the main auditorium, only to be uprooted and moved to another studio where a protracted period of standing commences. 

This section where the majority of the audience are required to stand is too long and some of the motion of this section is lost due to people fidgeting and generally moving around and being distracted. The audience are then lead back to the studio and allowed to remain seated for the rest of the performance.

The use of the projection system on to the blinds of the windows is effective but at times moves so rapidly that it is confusing and disorientating. It does however create a good visualisation of a blooming cherry orchard. 

Well executed and with strong acting, the material is strong but sadly this production fails to ignite. Possibly due to the constant change in location, it is difficult to get appreciate the emotion the actors are trying to convey and at 2 hours long with no break (and feeling every minute of it), this piece fails to reach it potential.

An average production of a Chekhov classic, which gives off the effect of a tree which bears no fruit. 

– Ruth Lovett