Cherry Orchard

Chekhov wrote The Cherry Orchard during the course of several years, alternating between periods of lighthearted giddiness and despondent frustration which he considered bordered sloth. Throughout this time he was also further inhibited by his chronic tuberculosis. Guarded by nature, Chekhov seemed overly secretive about all facets of the work, including even the title. As late as summer 1902 he still had not shared anything about the play with anyone in his immediate family or the Art Theatre. Chekhov was apparently delighted with the very sound of the title, and enjoyed the same sense of triumph months later when he finally revealed it to Stanislavski. By October of 1903 the play was finished and sent to the Moscow Art Theatre. Three weeks later Chekhov arrived at rehearsals in what would be a vain attempt to curb all the “weepiness” of the production which Stanislavski had directed. Although critics at the time were divided in their response to the play, the debut of The Cherry Orchard by the Moscow Art Theatre on January 17, 1904 (Chekov’s birthday) was a resounding theatrical success and the play was almost immediately presented in many of the important provincial cities. This success was confined not only to Russia, as the play was soon seen abroad with great acclaim as well. Shortly after the play’s debut, Chekhov departed for Germany due to his worsening health, and by July of 1904 he would be dead.