The Cherry Orchard (2009)

This production captures all the felicity and heartbreak that one can hope for from Chekhov...Here’s hoping that Schmidt and Breaking String will bring us their next offering as soon as they can. Браво! - Kelsey Altom Kling, The Austinist Review

What is this quiet exhilaration I feel in the presence of Chekhov? Especially when the piece is as well played as this one? - Austin Live Theatre Blog Review

...Breaking String, under the leadership of director and translator Graham Schmidt...are able to squeeze just as many laughs out of the audience as tears, with moments of heartbreak followed by flashes of slapstick... - Ryan Johnson, Austin Theater Examiner Review

About the Production

Click here to read the program (link provided by Austin Live Theatre Blog)

Lyubov Ranyevskaya went to Paris to escape her past; she returns to Russia to discover that her ancestral home, and her beloved cherry orchard, are about to disappear forever.  In this haunting tale of love, loss, and human frailty, Lyubov must endure the unimaginable, and realizes that even as the axes fall on the trees, a new life is being born. 

More than a century after it was written, Chekhov’s last and most beloved play still holds audiences spellbound with its unexpected majesty and dramatic power. Chekhov also finds comedy in our failures to live up to those ideals we consider sacred. As Breaking String theater artists, we hope most of all to bring Chekhov’s warmth and generosity of spirit to our audiences. 

Some of Austin’s finest performers came together to perform this new translation from the original Russian. Featuring a remarkable artistic ensemble led by Director and Translator Graham Schmidt, with Babs George * (pictured, above), Dirk van Allen *, Bernadette Nason*, Ev Lunning *, Matt Radford (pictured, right), Nigel O’Hearn, Liz Fisher, Sarah Gay, Robert Matney, Robin Grace Thompson (pictured, above), Noel Gaulin, Maarouf Naboulsi, and Cody Chua.

Off-stage talent included Adam Hilton providing first-class sound design, Rommel Sulit delivering a stunning set, Jen Rogers designing an exceptional lighting layout, and Buffy Manners beautifully costuming the cast.

* Members of the Actors’ Equity Association. This is a Members’ Project Code production.

Nominations and Awards

• B. Iden Payne Award Nominations
  • Outstanding Production of a Comedy
  • Outstanding Director of a Comedy - Graham Schmidt
  • Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy - Matt Radford
  • Outstanding Featured Actor in a Comedy - Nigel O'Hearn
  • Outstanding Featured Actress in a Comedy - Liz Fisher
  • Oustanding Sound Design - Adam Hilton
  • Certificate for Outstanding Translation - Graham Schmidt
• Austin Critics' Table Award Nominations
  • Outstanding Production of a Drama
  • Outstanding Direction - Graham Schmidt
  • Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy - Babs George
  • Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy - Matt Radford
  • Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy - Nigel O'Hearn