Act One

The Cherry Orchard opens in the nursery of Lyuba Andreyevna Ranevsky's estate. Although it is only about 2:00 A.M., it is close to daybreak, for it is May, when northern Russian days are long and the sun rises very early. Lopakhin, a businessman, and Dunyasha, a maid, anticipate the arrival of Mrs. Ranevsky, who is returning home from a self-imposed, five-year exile with her daughter, Anya, and her governess, Charlotta Ivanovna. Lopakhin speaks of his peasant background and his admiration for Mrs. Ranevsky; then the pair is briefly joined by the bumbling clerk, Yepikhodov, nicknamed "Twenty-two Calamities."

After arriving, the travelers enter, preceded by Firs, a manservant. They are soon joined by Varya, Lyuba's adopted daughter, Leonid Gayev, Lyuba's brother, Simeonov-Pishchik, a neighboring landowner, and Lopakhin and Dunyasha.

The reunion is very tearful. Mrs. Ranevsky sweeps about the room, overcome with joy. The family members all...