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JantlondiekuAthLopakhinandJouphZhgbranmfimovlnTho Cherry Orchard by Anton Chekhov. Chronicle Special radio starlet overnight, Like mmuu‘:firm‘;& flofi%ml To designer Ultz‘s nonâ€"deâ€" script, dark, somewhat dour setâ€" ting, suggesting hinting clausâ€" trophobic essence, the players of the Cherry Orchard are strange and wonderful. Fashionable esâ€" tate owner Madame Ranyevsâ€" kaya returns from selfâ€"imposed exile in Paris accompanied by daughter Anya, who has been visiting her in France with govâ€" erness Charlotta, and servant Yasha. She‘s greeted at the station by brother Gayev, adopted daughâ€" ter Valya, and neighbor Pischik. Awaiting her arrival at home are servant Dunyasha, state clerk Simon Epikhodov, and anâ€" cient valet Firs, plus Alexander Lopakhin, former peasant turned rich merchant. No one wants to face the fact that the estate is to be mortgaged. The family is heavily in debt, and Lopakhin has devised an interesting soluâ€" tion to avoid foreclosure. During this sardonic turn of events, new forces come to shape Old Russia. At the dawn of the 20th century, like their beloved Cherry Orchard, Madame Ranâ€" past yet spends mon m ..-.'-mynmhm is no tomorrow. it convincing as her cllldlm brother Gayev who deludes himâ€" self with wealith and fortune. Stratford newcomer Susan Cox is delightful as Charlotta the govâ€" erness, who amuses herself and everyone else with a series of joyful tricks. Joseph Ziegler as uC3 c 3Cs Lo as Campbell plays his merry blusâ€" Colm Feore is womanizing serâ€" vant Yasha, steeped in conceit and sensuality. William Needles‘ portrayal of estate ornaâ€" ment/valet Firs reveals a man firmly planted in the old order. Needles is chilling in Cherry Orchard‘s numbing finale. Though Wood‘s Cherry Orâ€" chard is a season truimph, Inâ€" timate Admiration is a disaster. The only strong point in the production is Stratford‘s artistic director John Neville who reâ€" turns to the stage after a threeâ€" year absence to play this gentle playwright, Anton Chekhov. Neville is compelling, conâ€" stantly harangued by attacks of mm sputtering due to Chekhov‘s infinite battle with turberculosis. Neville‘s intricate mannerisms and timing reveal a different loveable side of Chekâ€" hov, as he slowly saunters from study to his favorite perch in the garden of Yalta‘s white house.