Performers Wanted for "The Cherry Orchard" Show

A once rich landowner in middle age, she has suffered the deaths of her husband and young son Grisha and rejection by a freeloading lover. After a five-year exodus in Paris Ranyevskaya returns home to discover she is also about to lose her estate. In flight from suffering, she is reckless, entitled and compelling.

The son of serfs grew up on the estate and has been attached to Ranyevskaya since boyhood. He is a coarse, energetic, self-made product of the growing Russian bourgeoisie. He offers Ranyevskaya and her family a way out of their financial mess but the gulf created by class is unbridgeable.

Once Grisha’s tutor, he is a reminder of Ranyevskaya’s terrible loss and possibly bears some guilt for it. In his twenties he burns with a self-immolating idealism. An eternal student he pontificates about a bright future free of the shackles represented by Ranyevskaya and her class. He both criticises and pities her delusions. Possibly in love with her daughter Anya, who adores him.

In his fifties, Ranyevskaya’s brother has been softened by his dependent life. He sucks sweets, mimes playing billiards and forgets to dress. A terrible snob it is impossible to imagine how he will survive the loss of the estate.

Ranyevskaya’s adopted daughter manages the estate. In her twenties she alone comprehends the implications of their impending loss. Marriage to Lopakhin represents personal salvation if only he would ask her.

Ranyevskaya’s seventeen year old daughter and still somewhat childlike, she is innocently exasperated by her mother. The loss of the estate only registers because it hurts Ranyevskaya.

A fellow landowner also in financial difficulties and forever on the scrounge. He lives in the belief that something will turn up. And it does.

Anya’s entirely inappropriate governess is a loner who has previously survived as a travelling entertainer. Temporarily attached to the family, she entertains the family with her tricks whilst serving as their critic.

The eighty seven year old servant is probably senile. He eulogizes the good old days of serfdom when everyone knew their place. The family exhibits no sentimentality whatsoever towards him or his dedicated servitude.

A clerk on the estate and hopelessly in love with Dunyasha. He is mercilessly mocked by the other characters for his odd speech, squeaky shoes, chronic clumsiness and suicidal romantic outbursts.

A dashing callow young man servant employed by Ranyevskaya and disliked by everyone except Dunyasha.

A maid thoroughly smitten by Yasha but still wondering if she’d be better off with Yephikhodov’s oddly expressed but honorable intentions. She has been a satellite of the family all her young life.