Chicago Street Brings Chekhov’s Last Play to the Stage

Only three shows left in our Season 57 --- The Cherry Orchard (April 13-28), Brother of All (May 25 - June 9), and A Midsummer Night's Dream (July 13-28). We are now offering a 3-Play Package for only $36. That's only $12 per ticket compared to the single-ticket rate of $18! Call Mike in the Box Office to take advantage of this deal!

Comedy or tragedy? It’s an age-old question associated with Anton Chekhov’s classic, “The Cherry Orchard,” opening April 13 at Chicago Street Theatre. Chekhov, explains Co-Director Barb Malangoni, intended it to be a comedy, but it was first directed in 1904 as a tragedy.

Malangoni and Co-director Daena Sisk have chosen Chicago Playwright David Mamet’s adaptation of this final Chekhov classic, and they invite you, the audience, to decide into which category it belongs.

The story tells of Madame Ranevsky’s return to her Russian estate and cherry orchard after a five-year absence. Once an affluent and privileged member of society, Ranevsky now faces poverty and the likelihood that her beloved cherry orchard will slip from her grasp.

Bringing the play to Chicago Street, explains Sisk, presents “a wonderful opportunity to experience a truly great and classic work. For us, it was a chance to bring a piece to CST that is so necessary to see because of its importance and timelessness.”

Rehearsals with the cast, which includes some CST newcomers, have been a pleasure, Sisk says.

“The funnest aspect of the play so far is watching the characters develop. It’s amazing when they get their scripts out of their hands, and when they are able to start working with props. The transformation that happens is breathtaking, and our actors have been nothing less.”

Albeit with a few stumbles, the cast has embraced the strong Russian names of the characters. Now, names like Semyonov-Pischik and Yermolay Lopakhin are rolling off their tongues with ease, laughs Sisk.

“Our ensemble is dynamic and is creating deep, dramatic characters for our audience.”

The set, created by Eric Brant and Mel McColley, uses a solid, light color and relies on lights to enhance the mood. “Chekhov reveled in his idea of ‘theater of mood’, and we wanted to achieve that using color, light, and gobos (cut-outs of shapes that are used in lights). Second, we wanted to give the impression of a family that once had wealth but is now poor. (The set) is a physical representation of how sparse their wealth has become.”

The directors and cast are looking forward to the April 13 opening and offer some audience insider tidbits: Enjoy the silly moments. Immerse yourself in the drama. Draw conclusions and connections about the characters and their lives. Finally, enjoy the music, the costumes, and the colors.

The Cast:

• Lyubov Ranevskaya - Mary DeBoer, Valparaiso
  
• Anya - Jasmine Lake, Michigan City
  
• Varya - Laura Simmons, DeMotte
  
• Leonid Gaev - Grant Fitch, Crown Point
  
• Yermolay Lopakhin - Eric Brant, Valparaiso
  
• Petya Trofimov - Kevin Doran, Valparaiso
  
• Semyonov-Pishchik - Tony Balsamo, Valparaiso
  
• Charlotta - Kelley Weisenbacher, Valparaiso
  
• Yepikhodov - Matt Stinnett, Lowell
  
• Dunyasha - Jessie Howe, Portage
  
• Firs - David Pera, Valparaiso
  
• Yasha - Patrick Pohrte, Munster
  
• Stranger/Station Master - Glenn Silver, Hobart

The Cherry Orchard Show Schedule

• Friday, April 13 @ 8 p.m.
  
• Saturday, April 14 @ 8 p.m.
  
• Friday, April 20 @ 8 p.m.
  
• Saturday, April 21 @ 8 p.m.
  
• Sunday, April 22 @ 2:30 p.m.
  
• Thursday, April 26 @ 8 p.m.
  
• Friday, April 27 @ 8 p.m.
  
• Saturday, April 28 @ 8 p.m.

Prices

• Adult tickets $18
  
• Seniors (62+) $15
  
• Students (21 and younger) $15
  
• Veterans $15

Call (219) 464-1636, Ext. 1 for tickets or purchase online at www.chicagostreet.org /”Buy Tickets” tab.

Photos (courtesy of Jennifer Gonzalez):

• Eric Brant (L-R), Mary DeBoer, and Grant Fitch rehearse a scene from "The Cherry Orchard," opening April 13 at Chicago Street Theatre.
  
• Jasmine Lake (L-R), Mary DeBoer, and Laura Simmons rehearse a scene from the Anton Chekhov play, "The Cherry Orchard," running April 13-28 at Chicago Street Theatre.