THEATRE Chekhov as seen by director Hirsch rr HIS program notes on The Cherry Orchard, by Anton Chekhov, director John Hirsch says that Chekhov did not like Stanislavsky’s 1904 Moscow Art Theatre produc- tion, seen as “an elegy to a dis- appearing world.” Another ver- sion, in the 1950s, “a kind of — paean to a new world,” would also have displeased Chekhov, he says, and continues: “We hope that this (Stratford Festi- val) production is as he would have wanted it — a bag of lico- rice all-sorts, the flavor of life.” I think these notes tend to underplay Chekhov’s role as humanist, social commentator and prophet, and reduce him to a kindly observer who “neither disapproves nor condemns what is happening.” Writing before the 1905 Re- volution in Russia, Chekhov was surely not indifferent to the plight of his country. In play after play he introduces char- acters who dream of a better world, who implore their friends to work for that future, to com- mit themselves. One cannot merely “observe” these futile, finished people through a microscope. They are pathetic, bewildered and human. Mr. Hirsch has worked out a fresh approach to this play, an attempt, I think, to pare off layers of the bittersweet, the romantic and the often senti- nental moods created by past »wroductions. His opening act, iccordingly, is alive with an From The Cherry Orchard: (left to right) Frances Hyland as Varya, Kate Reid as Mme. Ranevskaya and William Hutt as Gaev. almost boisterous jollity. But this heartier note, flow- ing from his overall conception of the play, combined to con- fuse some sections of the aud- ience on opening night. They responded with loud laughter where a sympathetic chuckle would have been more in order. (Perhaps directors should avoid program notes; these an- alyses merely confuse the audience.) Having noted all the forego- ing, one must nevertheless ac- claim the Stratford Cherry Or- chard, its cast as ensemble and as individual actors, and all others who contributed to a strong and beautiful production. The play is. in a new transla- tion by Tyrone Guthrie and Leonid Kipinis, freer, more col- loquial, less “literary” than ear- lier versions. The economical use of haunt- ing Slavic theme music. (com- posed by Louis Applebaum), the background sound effects, the nostalgic costuming and stage settings by Brian Jackson (in Stratford’s fullest use to date of props, furniture and interior decor), the designer’s and direc- tor’s mastery of the open plat- form stage to produce a play written for the picture-frame stage, so that the result is ab- solutely logical and it rarely occurs to one that this is really a thrust stage — all these fac- tors combine to make an im- pressive artistic whole. The test of an actor is that one night he or she can play with impact in Henry IV Part One, the next night in Falstaff, later in Julius Caesar, then again in The Cherry Orchard. But even more, the test is to plumb a richer depth, create a fuller portrait in each role — in short, surpass himself with each new role. This happens in The Cherry Orchard. What, for instance, can be said of Kate Reid, except that as Madame Ranevskaya, owner of the orchard, she has created a vibrant new portrait. She is in love with life and, when her life finally collapses, she does not cry out, does not utter a sound. And in this silence her turme#i and heartbreak are re- vealed as only an actress of the first rank can reveal them. Or Douglas Campbell as Lop- ahin, son of serfs and now a -_prosperous merchant. I doubt whether Mr. Campbell has ever turned in so sensitive, so many- faceted a performance before, especially in his magnificent scene, the peak of his charac- terization, when he realizes he is now the new owner of the orchard. : Or William Hutt, 4 bet skaya’s brother (here 10? 4 high level) a forlorn nN pendent man, 51-years© frightened of the morrow tering toward old ag® e Or Hugh Webster, be ta student, the pense a of the old Russian int a melange of « ‘spall, idity, leading earnestly, st spire others with his of -a decent world. Of Thomas, the old family almost a serf in his lo the past, even thoug has tossed him aside — It is a remarkable thin8 this production that ev@ somehow offers a PplUS | reveals new depths of terization. ss ately gay, Frances Hyland veering between roses ® gar; Martha Henry 38 idge headed maid; Mary oa the German governess z ior and so lonely; Brun? si as the foppish youm supercilious, a scheme Needles as the ineP clerk, futile and accid@”,, Susan Ringwood, honest creature, ful without guile. It is the mark of @ tor that he can guide to new levels. For thee ly, Mr. Hirsch dese” tribute. fin? pis Marti fe _ Shoe plant's three-month strike By LUCIEN JACQUES MONTREAL The employees of H.B. La Grenade, a Montreal shoe fac- tory, have been on strike for three months demanding a wage increase of only 15 cents an hour. At present, these employ- ees are making between 73 cents and $1.90 an hour depending upon their work. They are also asking for shorter hours and improved working conditions. The owner has broken off all negotiations with the Confedera- tion of National Trade Unions (CNTU) ever since the employ- ees went out on strike. Members of Parti Pris and the Communist Party have joined the workers in sympathy. They are parading in front of the factory. | On Monday, July 26; the em- ployees had some trouble with strikebreakers sent by the Na- tional Em ploy ment-Service. These strikebreakers were es- corted by hoodlums, whom the company had hired to drive the scabs to work in cars. The picket line was broken by driving at it at high speed. There have been quite a few fights in front of the factory be- - tween the strikers, and the scabs and hired hoodlums. For some time now, In Mon- treal, many factory owners and business men have been hiring a squad of strong-arm-men to break strikes. The monthly, Combat, intends to print an ex- pose of this in its next issue. Parti Pris and the Communist Party have suggested that per- haps, right now, the best solu- tion would be for the strikers to demand participation in the management of the factory. The proposal was well received. Parti Pris and the Communist Party have issued statements condemning the National Em- ployment Service for providing the employers with scabs. There is a law which permits the em- ployment service to send these men, as long as they are warned in advance that there is a labor conflict where they are to ap- ply for a job. The CNTU, Parti Pris and the Communist Party are asking the government to withdraw this law in order to protect the work- ing class of Canada. Most of the workers are young; about 50 percent of them are women. Recently, a young girl, Jeanine Gagnon of Parti Pris, was arrested, because she was alleged to have kicked a police car. She was not charged. | Two picketers were arrested on July 27 for allegedly inciting the workers. One of them was Pierre Valieres, former editor of the revue Révolution Québe™ oise, which is no longer PUP” lishing. Others were arrested when they got one of the hoodlums- out of his car and,beat him UP: Factory doors a...1 windows were shattered. The demonstrations continued with the participation of 9 socialist and labor organization® such as the Communist P@ and Parti Pris. On one occasion a membef ! the La Grenade family thee ened the strikers with a pist® The police did nothing about if The shoe factory closed dowr on July 28. Only office worker? remained after the firm ha@ ” cided to desist from employ!” 8 scabs. : 0 Negotiations are scheduled : resume on August 3. . August 13, 1965—PACIFIC TRIBUN E _ pag? :