Skip to main content Skip to footer site map
Review: THE CHERRY ORCHARD at North Coast Repertory Theatre

Review: THE CHERRY ORCHARD at North Coast Repertory Theatre

The production is playing through April 2nd.

THE CHERRY ORCHARD at North Coast Repertory Theatre brings a contemporary contemplation to a classic play with strong performances and a lovely set. THE CHERRY ORCHARD is playing through April 2nd at North Coast Repertory Theatre.

This production, directed by David Ellenstein strikes the right balance between comedy and tragedy, bringing this story to life with a talented cast.

The titular cherry orchard is an estate that opens with Lopakhin (Richard Baird) a former serf on the estate now turned wealthy entrepreneur, who is waiting for the estate's owners to arrive. Lyubov Ranevskya (Katie MacNichol) is a wealthy aristocratic lady who has been living in Paris, and she and her brother Leonid (Bruce Turk) are back because their beloved family home is up for auction due to a large accumulation of unpaid debts.

Ranevskya has two daughters her youngest Anya (Riley Osborn) who is everyone's "angel" and Varya (Aanda Evanas) the oldest who has taken on the head of household duties while the rest of the family has been traipsing across the continent.

Lopakhin is waiting for them as he has the plan to help them take action to save their estate, but while Leonid and Ranevskya seem devastated at the thought of the land being auctioned off, they also lack the ability or the attention span to do much else than wring their hands and wish for someone to come save them.

The servants vary between the ever-faithful valet Firs (James Sutorius), the comedic and entertaining governess Charlotte (Sofia Jean Gomez), the opportunistic Yasha (Michael Louis Cusimano), hapless clerk Yepikhodov ( Jackson Goldberg), and the firebrand tutor Trofimov (Michael Raver).

Baird as Lopakhin is excellent as someone who is desperately trying to save this family from themselves but ultimately steps to take the reins of the future from them. MacNichol is delicate, idle, and deliberately delusional as she refuses to accept facts about the estate, or even her former lover in Paris that is clear to almost everyone else. Turk's Leonid is both cutting when dealing with those he disagrees with or not from his social class, but is also clueless as he launches into sentimental speeches or announces random billiard shots. Sutorius is excellent as the servant who is sold he is losing his memory, but never loses his valet ability to worry over Leonid's coat.

Review: THE CHERRY ORCHARD at North Coast Repertory Theatre

The set design by Arty Burnett and the lighting design by Matt Novotny work together beautifully, with a wonderful moment when the cherry orchard itself is revealed when everyone goes out for a picnic. Costumes by Elisa Benzoni as lovely and help define each person's personality and status clearly and are complimented by the Hair and wig design by Peter Herman.

It's often noted that THE CHERRY ORCHARD was written by Chekov as a comedy, but was performed as a drama and has had a pendulum swing between the two genres ever since. The former servant class grapples with the idea of wealth and elevation while struggling with misplaced affection for the seemingly useless aristocracy who indulge in their stubborn resolve to bask in former glory. There is the older servant class who deems their emancipation a national tragedy, and the firebrands who preach about utopian idealism. It's easy to see how these volatile elements would eventually lead to an explosive revolution.

How To Get Tickets

THE CHERRY ORCHARD is playing through April 2nd at North Coast Repertory Theatre. For ticket and show time information go to www.northcoastrep.org

Photo Credit: The cast of THE CHERRY ORCHARD Courtesy of Ken Jacques



La Jolla Playhouse Reveals Complete Programming for 2023 Without Walls (WOW) Festival Photo
La Jolla Playhouse has announced complete programming for its 2023 Without Walls (WOW) Festival of immersive and site-inspired work.

Write Out Loud Presents SCI-FI What Else Might There Be? at Old Town Theatre Photo
Write Out Loud - an organization founded in 2007 with a commitment to inspire, challenge and entertain by reading short stories aloud for a live audience to continue their 16th Season of Story Concerts with SCI-FI What Else Might There Be? on Monday, April 10th at the Old Town Theatre.

Wildsong Presents ROCK OF AGES Beginning This Week Photo
Wildsong Productions presents Rock of Ages, melting faces at the OB Playhouse March 24 - April 16. Wildsong Productions, based in San Diego California, is a nonprofit 501(c) community theatre group. Since April of 2022, they have produced 8 shows at the OB Playhouse, with Rock of Ages being the 9th!

Casa Romantica Debuts Spring Celtic Festival Celebrating Irish and Scottish Culture Photo
Experience a taste of art, culture, and the beauty of the Emerald Isles right here in Southern California! Casa Romantica Cultural Center and Gardens, Orange County’s major cultural institution and arts destination, will present its first-ever Celtic Spring Festival. Experience the rich culture and history of Ireland and Scotland first-hand through an array of authentic activities, live music, special concerts and performances, traditional drinks, and more.


From This Author - E.H. Reiter


Review: GUNTOPIA at The Roustabouts Theatre CoReview: GUNTOPIA at The Roustabouts Theatre Co
March 20, 2023

It took 3 years and one pandemic, but Will Cooper’s world premiere satire gUnTOPIA has finally opened to audiences at The Roustabouts Theatre Co. The show is a dark comedy pondering what life and society could look like if gun ownership was universal, and not carrying a weapon was against the law.   gUnTOPIA is playing through April 2nd.

Review: GOD OF CARNAGE at Backyard RenaissanceReview: GOD OF CARNAGE at Backyard Renaissance
March 18, 2023

Backyard Renaissance pulls no punches with their current production of GOD OF CARNAGE- where two couples have come together to resolve a fight between their children, but it quickly devolves from polite pretense to a delightfully chaotic and comedic confrontation as the gloves start to come off.  GOD OF CARNAGE from Backyard Renaissance is playing at 10th Avenue Arts Center through March 25th.

Review: THE CHERRY ORCHARD at North Coast Repertory TheatreReview: THE CHERRY ORCHARD at North Coast Repertory Theatre
March 18, 2023

THE CHERRY ORCHARD at North Coast Repertory Theatre brings a contemporary contemplation to a classic play with strong performances and a lovely set.  THE CHERRY ORCHARD is playing through April 2nd at North Coast Repertory Theatre.

Review: UNDER A BASEBALL SKY at The Old GlobeReview: UNDER A BASEBALL SKY at The Old Globe
February 23, 2023

 San Diego has deep ties to baseball well before the Padres arrived on the scene. The Old Globe’s new play UNDER A BASEBALL SKY, set in Logan Hieghts shows how baseball can become an important thread in the tapestry of individuals and their communities. This 90-minute play has mystery, family, magical realism, and a lot of heart and is playing through March 12th at The Old Globe.

Review: SUNDAY IN THE PARK WTH GEORGE at CCAE Theatricals is not to be missedReview: SUNDAY IN THE PARK WTH GEORGE at CCAE Theatricals is not to be missed
February 22, 2023

SUNDAY IN THE PARK WITH GEORGE may be a beloved musical,  but it isn’t staged that often- it requires an excellent cast to perform a show based on a classic painting by George Seurat, with the complicated but gorgeous Sondheim music to perform in order to make it great.  Luckily, this show by CCAE Thearicals is stunningly good, from vocals to musicians, and scenery it is a show you do not want to miss.   SUNDAY IN THE PARK WITH GEORGE is playing through March 5th.