I looked forward with great excitement to the recent production of Euripide’s Andromaca at the Teatro Olimpico in Vicenza. Not necessarily for the performance itself, which is a bit of a grim story especially for a non-Italian-speaking visitor, but for the manner in which the magnificent fixed stage set was to be utilised. The classical street scenes could surely be interpreted as the mythical Greek world.
However, a temporary, naturalistic and organic installation had been placed in front of the permanent set. It did have the aura of a barren and hot land, but, oddly, the drama made no reference to Palladio’s masterpiece.