The Cherry Orchard
by Anton Chekhov adapted by Simon Stone Esplanade Theatre, Singapore Simon Stone brilliantly transplants Chekhov's iconic play to South Korea in this LG Arts Center production at the Esplanade, giving us a version of The Cherry Orchard that unfolds with the raucous energy of a K-drama while losing nothing of the text's profound humanity. The Russian aristocracy is here reinvented as a declining chaebol family in Seoul who find their generational business crumbling while an upstart from humble beginnings is only too keen to stake his claim upon the world. It's a sleek, cinematic production that's both beautiful to behold (architectural designer Saul Kim's set is a veritable work of art) while remaining alive to moments of pain and pleasure that seamlessly bleed into each other. The cast, headlined by veteran film actress Doyeon Jeon and Squid Game star Haesoo Park, are fantastic in their parts and bring an effortless charm that endears them to the audience. Much...
