Rows of chairs have changed from order to chaos, with three tracks spread out, and the light beams on them are moved into trees, abstracting the entire space into an eternal "cherry orchard". From April 25 to 27, the drama "Cherry Orchard" starring French national treasure actor Isabel Yuppel appeared in the 2025 National Grand Theater International Drama Season. It has only been more than four months since she last met Beijing audiences on the drama stage.

　　The story of Chekhov's masterpiece "Cherry Orchard" revolves around an aristocratic family. After experiencing the difficult years in Paris, the family's hostess Liu Baofu returned to her hometown. In the cherry orchard that symbolizes beauty and hope, she had to sell her ancestral cherry orchard to survive the debt crisis. Chekhov's original work regards this family change as a microcosm of modern society moving towards modern times, and the decline of aristocrats and class movement have become an irreversible trend.

　　In 2021, the drama "Cherry Garden" directed by Thiago Rodriguez appeared on stage as the opening drama of the Avignon Drama Festival that year. Rodriguez changed his usual serious and serious interpretation. The modern stage of industrial style highlighted more universal narratives and meanings, that is, how should people anchor themselves and walk through the storm in the normal and unchanging "change".

　　"I think Chinese audiences are very lucky." Yupper said at the actor meeting. Before arriving in China, this version of "Cherry Orchard" had been staged in many countries. Although there were no general modifications, the crew's mechanics of the details of the work have been carried out for a long time in the past three years. Therefore, "Cherry Orchard" presented to Chinese audiences is immersed in many previous experiences and thoughts. Rodriguez further revealed that his trip to Beijing may end this version of "Cherry Orchard". His description reveals a kind of casual and free freedom: "Next time, we don't know when and where we will go back on the road."

　　Freedom is also Yupper's persistence when interpreting his role. Liu Baofu, who plays her, is laughing and intoxicated in rock music, and is sad and sad in the changes of light and shadow. When she interprets this role, Yupper wants to "take into account the appearance of the character's comedy and the core of the tragedy." "Actually, I don't pay attention to the specific skills of the performance, or I won't follow a specific method. For me, free expression based on full communication with the director and the screenwriter is very important. Every time I come into contact with a new role, I'm like meeting a new friend, and I have to know her and understand her." Yupper said calmly, "I have always been me."

　　Speaking of drama works such as "Cherry Garden", in the theater, Yupper felt the enthusiasm of Chinese audiences very directly. "Last December, I performed the Tennessee Williams drama "Glass Zoo" at the National Grand Theater. Everyone's response was quite enthusiastic, so I was full of expectations for coming to Beijing again." Yupper was keenly discovered that the language differences inspired a wonderful chemical reaction. "There are great differences between French and Chinese. During the performance, we can clearly feel that Chinese audiences listened to each line we said in particular, which made me feel that a very delicate connection with everyone." (Beijing Daily reporter Gao Qian)

[Editor in charge: Tang Wei]