Firs fusses round Gaev’s collar and his choice of clothes.  Trofimov (Ben Allen) the tutor brings back memories for Ranyevskaya of her little boy who drowned on the estate. 

Gaev is meant to be comic relief in this play which was originally described as a comedy.  Gaev cannot open his mouth without putting his foot in it.  I found Seagrove’s performance annoying and distracting as Gaev polishes and repolishes the silver top of his cane or continually is flapping away a fly which doesn’t trouble any of the others.  This fidgeting acting is uncalled for.  Making sense is Gaev zipping up his mouth when told to be quiet but what doesn’t make sense is that the zipper isn’t invented for another ten years after this play was written!

We can’t help but agree when Lopakhin tells Gaev, “You are such an old lady.” 

Three men represent Russia’s past aristocracy, her intellectual future and one socially mobility and getting wealthier.  Gaev is the land owning class past, in denial, Trofimov the political future and Lopakhin the entrepreneur.  The hardworking past, the serving classes, is Firs who explains that the cable breaking noise heard in this play was last heard just before the serfs won their freedom and is a harbinger of something to be feared.  He explains that no-one remembers how to dry the cherries to preserve them as he looks back on how the cherry orchard was profitable. 

After the interval there is an extravagant ball scene with champagne and Ranyevskaya weeps while Lopakhin is drunk and boorish.  The auction takes place and the whole estate is sold and they have to leave.

Sean Mathias’s production is disappointing.  The Cherry Orchard  has a plethora of minor characters who will confuse anyone not knowing this play.  I liked Francesca Annis as the brittle and capricious Ranyevskaya and Ben Allen is powerful as Trofimov the intellectual future of Russia.  McKellen is very good as Firs, stiffly lowering himself into a chair and moving slowly but this is a minor role not really worthy of a theatrical knight.  I missed the blossom of the cherry trees and we need to hear more clearly the chopping of the trees and their falling as they are felled, for greater dramatic impact. 

The ending of Firs left behind, locked in the deserted house as he is locked in the past and forgotten is poignant.