The Cherry
Orchard Conservatory of Theatre Arts, 1999
Tim Ocel…who has directed this production with the most delicate sensibility,
coupled with absolutely breathtaking dramatic acuity, fields a cast of young actors so good that I kept
saying to myself that this character or that, in small role or large, was the key to understanding the
play. Mr. Ocel’s triumph, ensemble performance…simply doesn’t allow you to notice that a tall, fit
young man is acting the part of a 90-year-old servant because you're so interested in what he’s doing
that what he is has become merely accidental. …compelling performances …substance as well as theatrical
competence …uniformly first-class production. It’s the best Cherry Orchard
I’ve ever seen and, in its way, the best production of any play I’ve seen in St. Louis for a couple of
years. more...