Mercy! Mercy! That Dang Nabed PERCY!

Rewrite of Andromache

Rewrite of Andromache

Actually I was thinking about rewriting Act 1 scene 1

Right now it begins with Philistes escape Monologue

Next is the scene where the captives are gathered outside the Palace. Menelaus shows up and talks briefly with Andromache, gets word of what is happening inside the palace, talks to Helenus about his wife Helen and is told that a son of Hector will rule Greece. He resolves to get rid of the boy Astynax.

Instead I am thinking of starting the scene as Priam is boarding up the doors….Hecuba and Andromache have a meeting where Hecuba gives the talisman to Astynax. Then Andromache gives a monologue….as she finishes Pyrrhus and his Greeks burst inside and the battle begins on stage. Pyrrhus kills Priam after they have an exchange….Aneas arrives with Trojan reinforcements and Menelaus arrives with his Spartans…. He tips the tide of battle and the Trojans flee leaving the women and children behind.

Menelaus and Andromache have a dialogue as Pyrrhus watches….He is struck by her poise and beauty….Menelaus moves on to Helenus and finds out where Helen has been taken. Helenus gives his prophesy and Menelaus becomes indignant, ordering Pyrrhus to take the baby from Andromache. She weeps and wails but Pyrrhus follows orders.

Menelaus tells Pyrrhus his intentions and Pyrrhus ends the scene with a Monologue.

This would accomplish several things more aligned with dramatic principles.

First the audience would get to see the fight inside the Palace instead of being told about it.

Next the audience would get a good look at Andromache the Central Character.

Next they would see the gut wrenching taking of the baby from Andromache.

Next Menelaus would foreshadow his plans for Hector’s son.

Finally Pyrrhus would show his fundamental sense of decency.

Later in the play is a scene where Andromache and Hermione, Menelaus daughter get into it…. In the competition at the University one of the judges wrote it sounded too much like a soap. Personally I think the Greeks invented the soap when they did drama but maybe the play does sag in the middle and could be tightened up…..I’ll have to think some more on that on.