Evening star., 1924-03-18
ADJUSTMENTS
Moscow Art Theater-' The
Cherry Orchard"

The Cherry Orchard" the second
play In the repertoire Of the Moscow
Art Theater now being presented at
Polls Theater. held its audience en-
tranced and delighted last night
Given in language unfamiliar to a
largo majority of the auditors, with
out great dramatic incident, this
9%medS TcheS Sor from o. the pen Of Anton
a vehicle for the members of the
moscow Art Theater to present a
series OF character sketches, marvel
ously drawn and marvelously acted.
1t existed a quarter of century or
"The Cherry Orchard" Is called a
comedy" although tears are mingled
proportion, and the final scene is one
OF grief and death. But the author
and his interpreters have unfolded
IaIe which shows in humorous fash
the humanity of men and women
typical of their class, station and
Calling. When it is said that THE
merry Orchard" was first given on
IN 1sO4-its premier performance
and that many Of the principals who
TOOK part in that performance played
iast night, that THE Cherry Orchard
Of the plays of the MOSCOW Art Thea
Ter. it is not so difficult to under
stand the perfection of acting. the
wealth OF detail, that brings even to
clear and charming picture. For ex-
ample. Stanislavsky still plays Gaiefr;
Mme. knipper plays Nine. Ravevs-
66aya; Leonidofr plays Lopakhin:
and Alexandroff plays Yasha,
The comedy of 1.-THE Cherry Or
chard' lies for the most part in little,
everyday incidents of life, The story
owners. whom poverty finally sepa-
rates from their estate. 1t is tale
or the folly which takes a widow.
NINE. Ranevskaya, owner of the
s,hery orchard. to Paris following
little boy, where in the company of
lover she Squanders her wealth.
Inc hrst act, however, shows her
return to her old home. accompanied
by her seventeen-year-o daughter
Anya: Charlotte, a governess. and
Yasha, a footman. There a group
awaits them-though it is the sunrise
hour of May morning. and the
nnSdinl Dtosnoms a OF the cherry trees are seen cen
dim light In the group are Nine
Ranevskaya's brother. the huge, good
I1atured. indolent Gaieff; her adopted
daughter Varya, aged twenty-seven
efhcient, but not handsome, and in
line to become an old maid: Lopah-
kin, a merchant, whose forefathers
were Serfs on the estate, but who has
prospered. and has been looked upon
as possible husband for Varya;
Semyonoff- -Pishchik, an improvident
landowner, always seeking small
loans; Trofimoff, a student, who was
the tutor of Nine. RanevskayaS little
boy; Yepikhodoff, a blundering clerk |;
Dunyasha, a pretty maid servant, and
Ffrce, an old footman, aged eighty
seven.
The JOY Of the home-comers and
OF those who receive them is un-
dimmed, even by the threat of pow
erty. 1t is a homely picture, ex-
Quisitely done by the artists of the
Moscow Art Theater. They continue
TO present a series of pictures. in the
fields. in the dining hall and: finally.
in the dismantled home. as the own
erS leave it to the new purchaser,
Iopakhin. the merchant, while the
axes are heard telling the cherry
trees outside.
Lopahkin is not villain, though
the old home falls to him at the
auction sale in October. He has
plans for the development Of the
estate through subdivisions for small
homes. He urges Nine Ravenskaya
and her brother to this course on
their own account showing that
they could have an adequate income
from it. But they decline. relying
upon assistance from noble aunt to
help them in their extremity. assist
ance which does not materialize. and
Iopahkin buya tho property in to
keep it from going to another.
The scene when the family and
their friends are awaiting news from
the auction sale-a dance is going
on-is among the most interesting
and amusing. When Lopahkin re-
turns and announces he is the own
er, cloud descends and skaters the
Inerrymaking. But, intoxicated with
the idea that the estate is his own,
Iopahkin orders the music to con-
tinue.
So perfect is the Interpretation of
the various parts that it is difficult
to single out for particular praise
members of the cast. Certain it is,
however, that the eccentric gov
erness. Charlotte, an adept at card
tricks, contributes to the amusement,
As played by Maria Uspenskaya.
Tonight Gorky'S THE Lower
Depths will be presented.