“The Cherry Orchard - claims Lev Dodin - is the most tragic play that Chekhov ever wrote. Audiences have realised that is it one of the greatest theatrical comedies ever. Despite not being funny, it is surprising and fascinating because it is a representation of the situations that life throws at us every day: A play that is history, with us as the characters, and in which life becomes part of the story itself”.
Once again Lev Dodin and the Maly Drama Teatr are the guests of the Piccolo Teatro for a presentation of their great productions: the Teatro Strehler plays host to the world tour of the staging of Anton Chekhov’s last masterpiece.
Written shortly before the Russian Revolution, the piece foretells of the great social changes and the emancipation of the servants of the rich landowners which was to come. The plot centres on the return to Paris of an old aristocratic family which has gone bankrupt, their fortune having been squandered by the matriarch of the family, Lyubov Ranevskaya. As they return to their estate, the splendid Cherry Orchard, the family is warned by the rich merchant Lopakhin, who was once the simple son of servants, that the property will soon go to auction if they don’t do something quickly to solve their problems.  Despite this warning, the family continue to do nothing, incapable of making important decisions.
This story - “has become - continues the director - a kind of legend on the unpredictability of history as well as its predictability, on people’s loss of control of their own lives and destinies. But it also examines their amazing strength and responsibility with regards to that same life and destiny, and on the ability to protect themselves and truly be themselves despite everything”.