‘The Cherry Orchard’

When: Previews begin Wednesday. Opens March 11 and runs through April 2. Showtimes 7 p.m. Wednesdays; 8 p.m. Thursdays through Saturdays; 2 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays (plus 2 p.m. March 10 and 22)

Where: North Coast Repertory Theatre, 987 Lomas Santa Fe Drive, Solana Beach

Tickets: $57-$68

Phone: (858) 481-1055

Online: northcoastrep.org

a knockabout farce,” Baird said.

Within Chekhov’s story about the fate of a land owner’s estate (site of the eponymous cherry orchard) is a meditation on the social changes happening in the early 20th century in prerevolution Russia. The influence of the aristocracy was waning, and a newly empowered and monied bourgeoisie was emerging.

In “The Cherry Orchard,” Yermolay Lopakhin, the son of a former serf on the estate, has gone from peasant to successful businessman.

“Lopakhin is a harbinger of things to come, is the way I think of him,” said Baird. “He’s the wealthiest character in the play. There’s a quality to that which makes me think the road to hell is paved with good intentions. He really thinks he’s going to save this family, but he bears the scars of being a serf growing up in that house.”

When it comes down to it, Lopakhin is complex, which appeals to Baird and which he says is a trademark of Chekhov’s characterizations.

“The great thing about Chekhov,” he said, “is that his characters are wonderfully drawn out. He said that none of his characters are heroes or villains. He’s one of the most unjudgmental playwrights I’ve experienced.”

Among those joining Baird in the cast at North Coast Rep are Katie MacNichol (last seen at NCR in the comedy “Into the Breeches!”) as the estate owner Lyubov Ranevskaya; James Sutorius; Ted Barton; Michael Louis Cusimano; Sofia Jean Gomez; and Amanda Evans.

This version of “The Cherry Orchard” was written by the late Jean-Claude van Itallie, who was known for his translations of Chekhov’s plays.