As the conversation ends, they all hear the sound of a string snapping, but cannot identify its source. Peter returns and expounds upon the laziness of Russian intellectuals and the importance of work, to everyone’s great entertainment. During the conversation, Lyuba reveals that her lover in Paris has been sending her telegrams asking her to return, and that he’d previously robbed her, left her, and drove her to a suicide attempt. Lyuba still hates the idea, and says that if the property is sold, she should just be sold along with it.

The others characters soon arrive, continuing the debate over Yermolay’s plan. The play’s second act begins with the estate’s servants, Yasha and Yephikodov, vying for the affection of a third servant, Dunyasha. Leonid and Lyuba reject the idea, because it would require chopping down the estate’s beautiful and beloved cherry orchard. He explains that vacationers have become more numerous in recent years, and that the profits would allow Lyuba to retain ownership of the land while still paying off her debts. Lyuba should divide the property, build cottages, and rent them to summering vacationers. Talking with Lyuba, Yermolay proposes a different solution for her money troubles. Yermolay is there to remind everyone that her debts have become overwhelming, and that as a result, the estate is scheduled to be auctioned off to pay all the bills. Anya tells Varya that Lyuba was nearly penniless, despite maintaining lavish spending. Lyuba is happy to be home in Russia, and on her family’s estate. In reflecting the socio-economic forces at work in Russia at the turn of the 20th century, including the rise of the middle class after the abolition of serfdom in the mid-19th century and the sinking of the aristocracy, the play reflects forces at work around the globe in that period.Lyuba arrives with her entourage in tow: her teenaged daughter Anya Anya’s governess, Charlotte the elderly manservant Firs Lyuba’s immature older brother Leonid Gayev her adopted daughter, Varya and Charlotte’s dog. The story presents themes of cultural futility - both the futility of the aristocracy to maintain its status and the futility of the bourgeoisie to find meaning in its new-found materialism. The play concerns an aristocratic Russian woman and her family as they return to the family's estate (which includes a large and well-known cherry orchard) just before it is auctioned to pay the mortgage. Since this initial production, directors have had to contend with the dual nature of this play. Chekhov intended this play as a comedy and it does contain some elements of farce however, Stanislavski insisted on directing the play as a tragedy. It premiered at the Moscow Art Theatre 17 January 1904 in a production directed by Constantin Stanislavski. The Cherry Orchard is Russian playwright Anton Chekhov's last play.

The cherry orchard by anton chekhov