THe Cherry Orchard- Kelli Firmin

Chekhov's play demonstrates the end of an era for a dysfunctional family. The cherry orchard has belonged to Madame Ranevsky family for a long time. She was born on the estate. She has misfortunes from failed relationships and the lost of her little boy from a drowning that it sends her to doing things that will eventually cause her to loose her beloved cherry orchard. She leaves the estate and travels to Paris where she lives in an older building. Her daughter Anya has been away many years and returns at the age of seventeen. She appears to be the caregiver to her mother rather than the mother to her daughter.When she reunites with her mother she is accompanied by her governess, Charlotta. Charlotta is very strange indeed, performing tricks for all to see.


When Madame Ranevsky decides to return to the cherry orchard she has already sold a villa to help make ends meet. She is involved with a man who claims he loves her. As she returns to the estate she is greeted by her brother, Leonid, who is not exactly a ball of fire. He enjoys playing billiards and being waited on by an elderly footman. The entire family is in denial that they will lose the estate and cherry orchids.Varya, the adopted daughter tries to keep the estate running. She is humble and longs for the love of Lopakhin. Lopakhin tries to be- friend the family and offer sound financial advice to sell the estate to be turned into villas and get out of debt. They ignore his plea and the estate goes up for auction and is sold and bought by Lopakhin. The family ignores the situation and Madame Ranevsky continues to act as if she has money to spend freely. She over tips, give gold pieces, and host grand parties while she is losing her homestead. I think the best way to sum up this play is denial and not living within your means.I would have liked to seen Varya marry well and keep the estate. Madame  had an opportunity to sell but chose to ignore the advice of others. I think the saddest part was Fiers, the loyal elderly footman was forgotten at the estate when all left. Yasha the young footman claimed to have made arrangements for him but did not. Fiers statement of "Life's gone on as if I'd never lived" makes a powerful ending. Rather sad.