David Ashton (actor) Cherry Orchard" and then Kulyegin in "The Three Sisters" at the Royal Exchange Theatre, Manchester. At the Royal Court Theatre, London, he played John in Christopher Hampton’s The Philanthropist with Alec McCowan, and also appeared in the West End musical Happy as a Sandbag at the Ambassadors Theatre and portrayed Mister Mulleady in Behan’s "The Hostage" at Greenwich Theatre. Most recently, he appeared as Sandy Sheridan in Uncle Varick, John Byrne’s version of Chekhov’s "Uncle Vanya", at the Royal Lyceum Theatre, Edinburgh. He has also taught, directed and lectured at the Central School of Speech and Drama, Rose Bruford College,
The Cherry Orchard of the past (often reliving memories about her son's death, etc.). The speeches by the student Trofimov, attacking intellectuals were later seen as early manifestations of Bolshevik ideas and his lines were often censored by the Tsarist officials. Cherry trees themselves are often seen as symbols of sadness or regret at the passing away of a certain situation or of the times in general. The theme of identity, and the subversion of expectations of such, is one that can be seen in "The Cherry Orchard"; indeed, the cast itself can be divided up into three distinct parts: the Gayev family