Half a century after falling in love with Chekhov, Libby Appel has given us a rich version of his masterpiece. Productions of “The Cherry Orchard” are often played too slowly and founder around in vague Russian atmospherics. This time it’s played with great precision. Judith-Marie Bergan gives us both Ranevska’s charm and her foolishness, Armando Duran is a fine Lopakhin, and Richard Elmore as Firs proves once again that there are no small parts.

A bat that somehow got into the Bowmer before it was opened stole the pre-show buzz darting about high above the audience. When the house lights came up later the flying mammal was gone. Rumor has it that bat checked out the show and said that in Chekhov, “nothing happens.”

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