The Cherry Orchard
Play Details
The Australian Premiere of
Tom Stoppard’s Translation of
Anton Chekhov’s
The Cherry Orchard
27th February-20th March 2011
Directed by Trent Baker
Set Design: Phil Rouse
Costume Design: Bridie O’Leary
Stage Management: Lucas Silva-Myles
Cast
Kirk Alexander - Firs
Marissa Bennett - Dunyasha
Michael Finney - Simon Yephikodov
Justin Hosking - Lopakhin
Silas James - Pischick
Kasia Kaczmarek - Varya
Dave Lamb - Yasha
Eloise Oxer - Charlotte
Sarah Ranken - Anya
Phil Roberts - Gayev
Jesse Rosenfeld - Trofimov
Michele Williams - Lyuba Ranevsky
Read the attached articles to learn of the remarkable story of our actor, Phil Roberts. Just before we were to open, Phil sustained a bicycle accident and broke his neck. Naturally, we postponed the show and six months later, Phil returned to the role, with a purple scarf covering a neck brace. This generated a lot of interest from the press and audiences, that we were turning people away at the door!
Review Samples
"The Cherry Orchard is a thoroughly enjoyable piece of theatre with exceptional eye to detail ,expertly directed by Trent Baker. Set design by Phil Rouse was imaginative and in keeping with the era and style of the play. Bridie O’Leary created authentic costumes with exceptional eye to detail.
The relationship between aristocrat, Luibov Ranevsky (Michele Williams) and serf turned businessman Lopachin, (Justin Hosking) is central to this play and is the driving force behind the action.
Together, Justin Hosking and Michele Williams have the kind of chemistry that actors can only dream of.
Michele Williams combines Luibov’s aristocratic air with an aching vulnerability. This combination of frivolity and torment makes for a stellar performance.
Hosking is likewise multifaceted. He embodies a man driven by furious ambition and an understandable rage over the lowly status of the serf in Russian society. But he is also deeply conflicted in his feelings for the aristocratic family. He has a deep love for Luibov, dating back to his childhood. He tells her of a memory when, finding him desperate and crying in the woods, she took him inside the aristocratic home and made him feel like an equal.
Hosking’s recounting of this event is extremely moving and adds to his electric performance.
Kasia Kaczmarek was haunting and delicate as Varya while Sarah Ranken gave a rich and layered performance as Anya.
Phil Roberts was perfectly cast in the role of Gayev, creating all the character’s eccentric traits with ease…
Jesse Rosenfeld was authentic and captivating in the role of Tropimov. Rosenfeld’s earnest speeches brought out the humour and colour in Stoppard’s translation.
Eloise Oxer gave a magical performance as Charlotta…
Marissa Bennett worked the stage with a wonderfully funny, very human Dunyasha…
David Lamb was fabulous as Yasha- a believable slimy opportunist, while
Silas James gave perfect comedic balance as Pischick.
Also adding a comic touch is the ancient valet Fiers played with conviction by
Kirk Alexander.
Michael Finney gave a tremendous performance as Simon Yephikodov.
Winterfall Theatre is producing a consistently high season of plays, and
The Cherry Orchard is a piece of theatre that I highly recommend you see. You should book in advance as the performance I saw was sold out and some walk-up audience members had to be turned away.”
Theatre People March 9th, 2011
“When a production makes you feel like you’re part of the proceedings and you must hold yourself back from joining in, then something’s going right…
They’re all good…Trent Baker’s direction has a sure touch.
Justin Hosking brings an Aussie male sensibility to his Lopachin; the character is familiar yet still right at home in the period setting.
There is a palpable sexual tension between him and Liubov, beautifully calibrated by the expressive Michele Williams who is extraordinary as the needy self-destructive mother on the verge of a nervous breakdown.
Kasia Kazmareck elegantly understates the unfulfilled Varya waiting in vain on Lopachin’s proposal.
Phil Roberts (sustaining a painful injury) is unnervingly poignant as Gayev, confluent with his sister’s denial and delusion.
Firs is ably presented by Kirk Alexander his demise at the end completely believable.
Winterfall Theatre gives us a fine version of this well-loved play, accessible and convincing. A delight well worth seeking out. “
Liza Dezfouli- Australian Stage, February 29th 2011
“Winterfall Theatre’s production has richly contrasting characters that are persuasively presented by the large cast…
Justin Hosking inhabits rather than merely plays the part of Lopachin… Hosking’s naturalism is refreshing and goes the farthest in bringing out the humour...particularly the social awkwardness in Stoppard’s script.
Sarah Ranken is suitably sweet in the role of Anya.
Kirk Alexander's ancient servant is like a slow-moving implosion…
Eloise Oxer captures the imagination with her governess Charlotta.
David Lamb’s Yasha is simultaneously smug and eager.”
Patricia Maunder, Artshub, February 29th 2011
“… fine moments and solid acting”
Martin Ball, The Age March 4th, 2011
“This is a first-rate production by Winterfall Theatre and director, Trent Baker.
The design by Phil Rouse was expertly done, as were costumes by Bridie O’Leary.
Michele Williams played the central character of Luibov with a conviction that had me transplanted to her ancestral home in 1905 Russia. Williams embodies the era, style and culture of Chekhov’s play with every fibre of her being.
Justin Hosking gave a splendid performance. Hosking is completely at home on stage and brought a natural, infectious charm to the character of Lopachin.
Phil Roberts deserves special mention. The actor wore a neck-brace, having broken his neck some months before when the production was postponed. Roberts gave a fine performance, wearing a purple scarf to cover the neck-brace, adding flare to the effusive Gayev.
Kasia Kaczmarek gave a captivating performance as Varya, in an understated and intelligent interpretation of this complex character. Sarah Ranken played Anya with sensitivity, her expressions conveying the character’s complex subtext.
Jesse Rosenfeld captured the very heart and soul of Chekhov’s eternal, idealistic student, Tropimov. David Lamb was excellent as the self-interested Yasha. Such villains are not easy to play, and Lamb succeeded in placing Yasha’s self-interest inside a believable character.
Marissa Bennett is clearly an actress with enormous dramatic and comedic ability. Her understanding of the play’s tragicomic genre made for an achingly funny and complete portrayal of Dunyasha.
Michael Finney’s physical acting skills make for an excellent clown in the role of Yepikhodov.
Eloise Oxer was mesmerising as Charlotta, capturing the essence of a character who has no idea who she is or where she is from. Oxer’s expert physical acting skills made for some magical moments on stage.
All the cast are excellent and worked together as a slick, professional ensemble."
Inpress, March 2nd 2011
“…the kind of chemistry that actors can only dream of”
Theatre People
“This is the Australian Premiere of British playwright, Tom Stoppard’s translation of Anton Chekhov’s The Cherry Orchard performed by Winterfall Theatre Company.
Stoppard keeps the play in its original Russian setting but adds a degree of modernity. Unsurprisingly, the overall feeling is a bubblier, more upbeat tone than usual translations. The language is less formal, making the characters relatable to our own society. Liubov’s inability to handle money, Lopachin’s take-over of traditional housing in favour of modern homes, is all too familiar.
Justin Hosking plays Lopachin as an impatient former serf who wants to embrace the future while the family he disrupts hold onto the past largely out of sentiment. Stoppard’s Lopachin is a more pragmatic figure than in other versions of the play…
Hosking succeeds in embodying a terrific mixture of the Russian serf and the contemporary land developer. He gives a compelling performance that resonates with today’s audience. He is less of a romantic bumbler who fails to propose to Varya out of emotional conflict. He seems too busy to have paid her any attention.
Kasia Kaczmarek’s Varya is beautifully understated, staunch and honest. Her ability to restrain emotion makes for an intriguing performance.
Lopachin’s love rests with Luibov, the only character that causes him to reflect on any of his actions. Director, Trent Baker succeeds in bringing out a tangible chemistry between Lopachin and Luibov, played with great skill and care by Michele Williams.
Mariss Bennett is unnervingly charming as the dreamy Dunyasha, and Stoppard’s particular form of humour is expertly handled by David Lamb as the slimy upstart, Yasha.
In a world where everyone looks out for themselves, Jesse Rosenfeld gives a riveting performance as the idealistic Tropimov.
The entire cast give excellent performances. The show I attended was full, so it would be prudent to book ahead."
Curtain Call, March 8th, 2011
Press
The Sydney Morning Herald The Age
Interview by Robin Usher with Phil Roberts and Michele Williams.
Phil talks about returning to the theatre six months after breaking his neck and the significance this play has for him. We also talk about obtaining the rights to the Australian Premiere of Stoppard’s translation of Anton Chekhov’s The Cherry Orchard.
Photo Gallery
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