The Cherry Orchard at MTC

The theme of Chekhov's The Cherry Orchard translates very well from the 1880s to the 21st Century, namely, the encroachment of suburbia onto traditional farming land.  At MTC,  Simon Stone has taken the script and has done a great job of updating it. The flyer says it's a "boldly original interpretation", but I think Chekhov would have approved and at least one reviewer has. Comparing the play with Chekhov's text, my impression is that Stone has retained the vast majority of it, including Chekhov's meanderings (very Russian?) - or are these "complexities"?    True, the references to trains have been updated to planes, and it's a pity that Stone couldn't find room to retain the references to serfs (the developer, instead of being a serf's son, is the grocer's son), but at least he has retained the decadent Russina aristocracy.

Pamela Rabe plays the lead role, and  is certainly "full on", but it's a role which it would be impossible to over-act.

The set for much of the time is a stark three sided white box - very modern - and there's not a cherry blossom to be seen for the whole performance.  It wasn't really to my taste, but it didn't detract from my enjoyment.  There was a full house on the night we went although inexplicably the couple next to us didn't return after the interval.   I think they really missed out.