The Cherry Orchard

The Cherry Orchard by Anton Chekhov, set in 1904, is quite fun to go and watch. It’s a period piece with the appropriate costumes, and the themes are still relatable today. We fall in love with the wrong people, we make incorrect choices, and sometimes we just like to stick our heads in the sand. We try to do our best, our journey is sometimes sad, sometimes funny, and hopefully there’s love. These are the same issues people were facing in 1904.

“The Cherry Orchard is about humanity and transitions in life, some of us are able to deal with these transitions and others are kind of paralysed and unable to move forward, even though it can be detrimental to them,” explains Cherrie Whalen-David, who plays the role of Ranevskaya. “It’s change both social and personal, set in a time when Russia was going through enormous changes. The aristocracy was becoming a smaller class, the serfs were being emancipated, there was a middle class developing.”

“The play is quite absurd at times. It’s definitely a fun play, it’s a comedy with some underlying tragedy. It’s quite a moving piece, as you’re really rooting for certain characters to embrace the changes. They can’t do it and that’s ultimately their downfall,” added Cherrie.

Depot Theatre’s new independent venue is at the Addison Road Community Centre in Marrickville. Farmers Markets are there every Sunday, along with Reverse Garbage and a little art gallery for people to display their work. It was built in 1914 as an army depot and was used until just after the Vietnam War. In 1979 it became a community centre and previous to Depot Theatre, Sidetrack Theatre was located there. It is an old space that’s being reincarnated, and it’s exciting to see the rebirth of this new theatre. (MS)

July 15 – August 1. The Depot Theatre, 142 Addison Road, Marrickville. $24-$29. ($20 Wednesdays/School Students/Previews) Tickets & info: info@thedepottheatre.com or 0428032838