The Cherry Orchard – by New Theatre

Since it was first published in 1904, Anton Chekhov’s play The Cherry Orchard has had many adaptions.

Director Clemence Williams, who graduated last year from the Master of Fine Arts (Directing) course at NIDA, has read several of these adaptions – but it was the one from acclaimed playwright David Mamet that resonated most with her.

“I think [Mamet’s interpretation] is shorter, sharper, a little sexier and has its own distinct rhythm,” said Williams.

The Cherry Orchard deals with an aristocratic family’s dilemma to sell their beloved property. It will mark Williams’ debut main stage production in Sydney and also feature fellow NIDA graduates Sarah Chadwick and Josephine Starte, playing the roles of Lyubov and Varya respectively, with Jonathan Hindmarsh responsible for the set and costumes. Williams explained it was a very collaborative working experience:

“We started off with a fair amount of table work for us all to get our heads around the slice-of-life style. We then broke down the play into actions and started to play with objectives and super objectives for the figures. It’s been both fascinating and a challenge to work with a cast that have quite different approaches to acting.”

Even though more than a century has passed since it was first written, Williams believes the play’s themes of class systems and real estate remain increasingly relevant.

“Who can own land? Who will inherit land? What does land ownership mean to one’s socio-economic status? These are the questions the play asks of its audience and are ones which plague our social and political landscape today.”

“My aim is to create onstage relationships that demonstrate the transient nature of the class divide,” explained Clemence. “I want the ideas of disconnection, detachment and misplaced nostalgia to be accessible. Our audiences can expect a lot of tongue-in-cheek humour, unrequited love, sexual tension and a decimated Orchard.” (ASim)

Apr 26–May 28. New Theatre, 542 King St, Newtown. $17-$32. Tickets & info: newtheatre.org.au

BY ALICIA SIM