RSC's Cherry Orchard Review Lacks Sparkle

Tamara Harvey's production of Anton Chekhov's final play, "The Cherry Orchard," at the Swan Theatre in Stratford-Upon-Avon, has been met with criticism for a disappointing lack of sparkle and a muted tone. The play features a cast including Helen Hunt as Madame Ranyevskaya, Bill Pullman as her brother, and Kenneth Branagh as Lopakhin, a shopkeeper's son who represents the rising forces against Russia's old order.

Despite the presence of prominent actors, the production fails to convey the story's emotional charge and its complexities surrounding love and loss. The review notes that the tone is "too soft-edged, almost endearing," which diminishes the play's inherent force. The ensemble cast, while talented, lacks a central magnetic presence to anchor the narrative and engage the audience effectively.

The reworking of Chekhov's plaintive play by Laura Wade aims to bring a dazzle with its notable cast. However, the overall effect is described as woolly in meaning and soft-edged in tone, preventing the audience from fully experiencing the sting of the play's losses and the intricacies of its themes. The production's shortcomings are attributed to a directorial approach that dilutes the play's impact rather than amplifying it.