Writing to his brother in 1889, Anton Chekhov advised: ‘Try to be original and as clever as possible in your play, but do not be afraid of appearing stupid. Freethinking is essential, but to be a freethinker one must not be afraid to write nonsense.’

I thought a lot about nonsense during the Melbourne Theatre Company’s new production of Chekhov’s The Cherry Orchard (1904). In this often tedious, sometimes cringe-making, but mostly tolerable production, it’s actually the few moments of utter nonsense – the odd touches that properly baffle – that stay in the mind and retain their fascination, even as the rest of the evening rapidly recedes.