The Cherry Orchard

Last Night I went to see Anton Checkhov's The Cherry Orchard at the Old Vic Theatre. Ethan Hawke starred in this new version of the play by Tom Stoppard as part of The Bridge Project which is a cooperative effort between North American and U.K. Theatres. I have always had a lot of respect for Ethan Hawke as an actor and so it was fun to get to see him up close. I was impressed at the fluidity by which he said his lines and the rest of cast was strong as well. The play is a sort of social commentary on the decline of the Russian aristocracy at the end of the 19th century. At one point bright lights appeared on stage and armed guards in the distance to underscore that a passing beggar was actually an escapee of a labor prison.

The Old Vic was a great. It had three levels and balconies with a large glass chandelier hanging from the ceiling. The stage and lighting were not glamorous or spectacular. It was just good acting and play writing. And of course Ethan Hawke.

Here is a link to The Old Vic

http://www.oldvictheatre.com/whatson.php?id=47