historical context crit 1, crit 2 & crit 3
Stanislavski The Cherry Orchard by Anton Chekov Summary of the play The show starts with the Lopakhin, a bissnessman and Dunyasha his maid waiting for the owners of the Ranevskaya estate. These people are the mistress of the house, Lubov Ranevskaya, her brother Gaev, and daughter Anya. They arrive, in the middle of the night, with some other people, the governess Charlotta, the servant Yasha, a friend named Simeon-Pischik, and other servants. Varya, Lubov’s adopted daughter, is there too.
They have an emotional reunion and a general catching-up. Those who stayed home report on the orchard, and those who left report on Paris. They talk about how Lopakhin still hasn’t proposed to Varya and how Lubov lost all her money supporting a scamp. They also talk about how the cherry orchard will definitely have to be sold to pay their debtsand also how the elderly servant Fiers is still alive.
Lopakhin has an idea to save their house. He’s attached to it because he grew up there, the son of a serf (a peasant working on the land). Lopakhin proposes clearing the land to lease it for summer homes. Lubov nor Gaev cant stomach the idea. Just before everyone goes to bed, the student Trofimov enters. He was the tutor to Lubov’s dead young son, and the sight of his face up sets her.
In Act II, we’re at a picnic in the cherry orchard. Sometime have passed. The aristocrats arrive with Lopakhin, who is still making plans to save the estate. Lubov knows they need to do something, but to her the idea of summer homes is distasteful. Trofimov enters with Anya and Varya. They start talking about Varya’s engagement and Trofimov’s eternal/wondering student status. They also talk about telegrams from Lubov’s Parisian lover and then the orchard. A homeless man enters the scene, drunk and singing. He asks for money and Lubov gives him a gold piece, a donation she immediately regrets.
Everyone leaves, and finally Trofimov and Anya are left alone. Because of him she’s come to see the orchard differently. It’s no longer the centre of her childhood, but a symbol of the injustice her family courses on others.
Act III is set in August, back at the family estate. Lubov is throwing a party. There are a number of little arguments and discussions. But the main event is the arrival of Lopakhin. Him and Gaev have come from the sale of the cherry orchard. Lubov’s been tenterhooks waiting to hear what happened. Lopakhin buys the estate. The former son of a serf who worked on the estate now owns it. Lubov is crushed, but Anya gently tells her to move on.
Act IV takes place in October, outside the estate. Everyone is moving out, and Lopakhin, no master of sensitivity, offers champagne. Each character says good bye to the house. Anya and Trofimov are excited about the future. Lubov and Gaev are distraught, but trying to keep it together. Lubov is worried about the elderly servant Fiersthey ask if they have taken him to the hospital? Anya confirms that he’s taken care ofthey also ask if Lopakhin will finally propose to Varya? He won’t. Everyone leaves, and after a moment, Fiers enters the stage. He has been forgotten. He lies down and grows quiet.