Galatea Ranzi on Euripides' Alcestis at Syracuse Greek Theatre

Galatea Ranzi, the award-winning actress and muse of Luca Ronconi, discusses her role in Cesare Lievi's production of Euripides' Alcestis at the Greek Theatre of Syracuse, running until June 19. The play, which debuted at the Theatre of Dionysus in Athens in 438 BCE, is a unique tragedy with a happy ending, where the heroine Alcestis sacrifices herself for her husband Admetus and is later rescued by Hercules. Ranzi highlights the character's absence and silence, her modern and romantic heroism, and the enigmatic finale. She notes that Euripides leaves more questions than answers, especially regarding Alcestis's identity upon her return. Performing in the ancient theatre adds a unique dimension: open-air, daytime performances with natural elements like sunlight and birdsong, and the audience visible to each other, breaking the fourth wall. Ranzi reflects on the loss of the original religious and communal context of Greek theatre, yet finds its archetypes still resonate. She also mentions her upcoming project, a contemporary staging of Phaedra with text by Eva Cantarella and direction by Consuelo Barilari, featuring strong video interaction.