The Cherry Orchard by Anton Chekhov

This is my last selection for the Classics Challenge. I read an adaption by David Mamet because that was it for our library. In his foreword he explains that he views the play as a series of scenes repeating the same action i.e. frustrated lovers. I read the foreword hoping that it would help explain the play but I didn't really see Mamet's thesis. The story is an indolent woman returns home to her estate to find it on the chopping block (literally)! A wealthy businessman from peasant background devises a plan to save the estate by selling the cherry orchard for real estate development. She refuses to take any action and the estate is sold to the wealthy businessman who proceeds to chop down the cherry orchard. The indolent woman returns to her unfaithful lover in Paris and that's the end of the play. There are some subplots along with the main story involving lovers who cannot get together for various reasons. Everyone in the play is kind of irritating because they seem so inept and passive. I tend to see the play more as a commentary on the rot at the heart of Russian society, which is the very thing that Mamet is convinced it is not! The reason I think it's a commentary is that no one will take any action. They're living in denial as their estate is sold away, too busy having parties and histrionics. Also, the landowners seem incapable of work and the peasants seem incapable of leadership. The only person who takes action is the businessman who comes from a peasant family. So, I guess it's open to a lot of interpretation. In fact, this idea of being destroyed by debt has relevance right here right now! It was good to read a play because normally I don't and I have the Classics challenge to thank for that!