Orchard

by Zoe Senese-Grossberg

A loose adaptation and deconstruction of Chekhov’s Cherry Orchard recasts the Gayevs as a declining prominent Jewish German family who have lost their railroad empire to Aryanization. Set in the summer of 1935, the Gartenberg family enjoys the summer heat and lively debates while only the new money factory owner, Kurt Lange, sees the writing on the wall.

A loose adaptation and deconstruction of Chekhov’s Cherry Orchard recasts the Gayevs as a declining prominent Jewish German family who have lost their railroad empire to Aryanization. Set in the summer of 1935, the Gartenberg family enjoys the summer heat and lively debates while only the new money factory owner, Kurt Lange, sees the writing on the wall.

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Orchard

Character Information

  • Esther Gartenberg
    The lady of the house and the matriarch of the family; delusional, emotional, and quietly controlling. She corresponds to Ranyevskaya/Gayev.
    late 50s
    Jewish -- Ashkenazi
    Female
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      50s,
      60s
    • Actor Gender Identity
      Woman
  • Louisa Gartenberg
    Raised Jewish, born to gentiles, Esther’s adopted daughter, keeps house in her absence. Tightly wound and emotionally distant. She corresponds to Varya.
    24
    Female
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      20s
    • Actor Gender Identity
      Woman
  • Hannah Gartenberg
    Esther’s younger daughter, was studying at university in Paris, a young idealist with strong political convictions. She corresponds with Anya.
    19
    Jewish -- Ashkenazi
    Female
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      Teens,
      20s
    • Actor Gender Identity
      Woman
  • Kurt Lange
    A wealthy factory owner and friend of the family. He is a weak and emotionally repressed man but crucially not an evil one. He corresponds with Lopakhin.
    mid 20s
    Male
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      20s,
      30s
    • Actor Gender Identity
      Man
  • Leo Teitelbaum
    A devout communist and perpetual student at the university in Munich, self important, emotionally immature but kind. He corresponds with Trofimov.
    34
    Jewish -- Ashkenazi
    Male
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      30s
    • Actor Gender Identity
      Man
  • Grethe
    The Gartenberg's maid, a dreamy girl on the cusp of womanhood who is growing more practical and intelligent by the day. She corresponds with Dunyasha.
    late teens-early 20s
    Jewish -- Ashkenazi
    Female
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      Teens,
      20s
    • Actor Gender Identity
      Woman
  • Fritz
    Esther's valet, pompous, pragmatic, and bitter, he believes himself far older and wiser than everyone around him. Has a soft spot for Grethe. He corresponds with Yasha.
    late teens-early 20s
    Jewish -- Ashkenazi
    Male
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      Teens,
      20s
    • Actor Gender Identity
      Man
  • Tante
    A refugee from pogroms in Ukraine, she was the nanny to Esther and her children. Now she has gone mostly senile though she has moments of sharpness and circumspect lucidity. She corresponds to Firs.
    late 70s-early 80s
    Jewish -- Ashkenazi
    Female
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      70s+
    • Actor Gender Identity
      Woman