"It is possible to appreciate the cleverness of Mr. Dodin’s approach yet initially find it tedious...But the pace speeds up significantly after intermission. Some bits of business that Mr. Dodin invested in earlier, at last pay poignant dividends. Greater risks are taken and these have their rewards, too. It is here that this 'Cherry Orchard' comes into blossom, speaking not only to the time of its creation but also to contemporary Russia, and more universally, too. "
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"Chekhov fans got a little thrill when they heard that Maly Drama Theatre was coming to town...Yet the version now at BAM limps along, striking muffled notes that should be clear. The Maly actors shout and mug; there's little magic, no balance and barely any dynamic control...Dodin has staged an 'Orchard' that elaborates on all kinds of facets—he adds sexual high jinks and much violent business. He adds so much, but edits out Chekhov's sympathy. That, I found, was a cut too deep."
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"A superb revival...Director Lev Dodin is judicious in his adaptation, hacking through the weeds to get us right into this conflict of class, pride, and economic reality. The result is a production with the breezy pace of a comedy, but the emotional heft of a tragedy. It perfectly encapsulates the dueling impulses of this famously contentious play...The unadulterated commitment of the entire cast leaves the most lasting impression...Chekhov's text comes alive under the production."
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"The Maly Drama Theatre’s production of ‘The Cherry Orchard’, though exasperating, is also entertaining and, to a small degree, revelatory. The director, Lev Dodin, imposed way too many of his own ideas on the delicate structure, in the process making questionable choices. The focus too often strays to a piece of silly business…Dodin uses the conceit of a silent movie to impart the image of the cherry orchard...This is actually lovely, and the one idea that works.”
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"Rarely does a revival come along that allows us to experience a classic as if for the first time, and see it in an entirely new light. Such is the case with the brilliant revival of Chekhov’s 'The Cherry Orchard' by the Maly Drama Theatre...Lev Dodin, its fearless director, has made some daring and unconventional choices with Chekhov’s beloved masterpiece that elevate this production to one of the most thrilling I’ve seen in my theatre-going lifetime."
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"The artistic vision that Dodin shared with us was sometimes exquisite, sometimes as powerful as a hammer hitting an anvil...Dodin's direction is marvelous, but his creation takes wings thanks to Danila Kozlovsky's prodigious performance of Lopakhin. He is strong, smart, generous and conflicted...One of the strongest Dodin productions I have seen."
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