Belgrade, CoventryAny production of Chekhov seems to carry a certain number of given factors: there will be silver birches, there will be samovars, there will be parasols. The opening tableau of Helena Kaut-Howson's staging, co-produced by the Belgrade and the Arcola in London, packs in all three before a word is spoken. Fortunately, it appears to be an attempt to get the cliches over with quickly, because …
SOURCE: The Guardian at 01:07PM on April 7, 2011