The Cherry Orchard

When you turn on the radio, you hear the cheerful sound of Christmas carols, old and new,

sung out loud.

When you look around, you can see the decors hanging bright.

People in panic, but smiling,rushing around, laughing out loud.

It’s not the best of times to say: “We’re better off apart.”

It’s not the best of times to tell people :

“It’s over; it’s over.”

But since this is a season of cheer, we’ll just wipe away our tears.

Go on away pretending that we’re together still.

We’ll tell them tomorrow, or maybe another day.

Maybe we won’t have to say a single thing.

Maybe next year we’ll say hello again,

instead of goodbye.

When you look around, you can see the decors hanging bright. People in panic, but smiling,rushing around, laughing out

loud.

But since this is a season of cheer, we’ll just wipe away our tears.

Go on away pretending that we’re together still.

We’ll tell them tomorrow, or maybe another day.

Maybe we won’t have to say a single thing.

Maybe next year we’ll say hello again,

instead of goodbye.

But since this is a season of cheer, we’ll just wipe away our tears.

Go on away pretending that we’re together still.

We’ll tell them tomorrow, or maybe another day.

Maybe we won’t have to say a single thing.

Maybe next year we’ll say hello again,

instead of goodbye.

Let’s Stop and Think!What is your most prized possession?If someone were to take it away from you,

would you allow them? Why do we need to protect our personal

treasures?

Spotlight on the author29 January 1860 – 15

July 1904 a Russian physician,

dramatist and author who is considered to be among the greatest writers of short stories in history.

Chekhov practised as a doctor throughout most of his literary career: "Medicine is my lawful wife", he once said, "and literature is my mistress."

Chekhov renounced the theatre after the disastrous reception of The Seagull in 1896, but the play was revived to acclaim in 1898 by Moscow Art Theatre, which subsequently also produced Chekhov's Uncle Vanya and premiered his last two plays, Three Sisters and The Cherry Orchard.

CharactersMadame Lyubov Andreievna Ranevskaya

A landlady – owner of the cherry orchardThe main character around whom all other

characters revolveA commanding and popular figureExperiencing hard financial times

CharactersPeter Trofimov

A student and Anya’s love interestDepicted as a “forever student”Has revolutionary ideas

CharactersBoris Borisovich Simeonov - Pishchik

A landownerAlso fell on hard financial timesHe tries to discuss business ventures that may

save himHe badgers Madame Ranevskaya for a loan

CharactersAnya

Madame Lyubov’s daughter17 years oldShe journeys to Paris just to save her mother

from her plightVirtous, strong, young womanTrofimov’s love interest

CharactersVarya

Madame Lyubov’s adopted daughter24 years oldDeeply religious and very seriousVery controlling character

CharactersLeonid Andreieveitch Gayev

Madame Lyubov’s brotherAlso an aristocratAddicted to billiardsTries hard to save his family and estate but

lacks the drive

CharactersYermolai Alexeievitch Lopakhin

A merchantThe wealthiest character in the playComes from a poor background – from the

lowest Russian social class.Often portrayed as an unpleasant character

because of his greedy tendencies, as well as his ultimate betrayal of the Gayev family.

CharactersDunyasha

A housemaidAn attention seekerDresses like an elitistLikes to show herself off

CharactersYasha

A young manservantRude and inconsiderate The play’s only true unpleasant characterAlso employed by the GayevsToys with the affection of Dunyasha