A fairy tale in an enchanted setting

 

Vouliagmeni Lake, near Athens.

 

 



 

I have written about the lake in Vouliagmeni before, and you can see the post here where I described the lake and how I feel when I am there, but where I also drew juxtapositions between the lake, which is a lacuna, and Barbara Kingsolver's novel The Lacuna.

Swimming was not the reason for our visit this time, however. We went to see the play Ondine, written by Jean Giraudoux, and performed by the Naan group. When we got there we found out that the play was not going to be performed in the lake itself, but the Small Lake. When I told the official that we did not know the Small Lake existed, he said that no one did, this was the fist time that it had been opened to the public, specifically for this performance.

 

We sat by the lake and had an early supper. At 9:00 we made our way to the small lake

 



 

 

 

 

It's a very small lake, tiny, and this made the whole experience immediate and very intimate

 

 

 



 

 

four rows of seating on two sides and the rock majestically rising on the other two

 

 

 

the stage on the right was partially submerged in the water and most of the action happened either on that stage or in the water

 

 

we were enchanted the whole time - it was a magical experience. I sat on the edge of my seat and did not want the performance to end.

 

 

 

 

 

Very clever lighting

 

 



 

 

that enhanced the rock

 

Ondine is a passionate love story.

 

 

 



Auguste and Eugenie are impoverished folk earning a living on the edge of a lake in the Black Forest.

A baby they found at the water's edge when their own child was lost has grown up to become a strangely enchanted creature they have named Ondine (or Little Wave)






Impulsive, frank and filled with wonder, Ondine is a creature of water and air, riding the storm at night, spontaneously performing little feats of magic and driving her aging adoptive parents crazy with her whims and unpredictability.






The arrival of Hans, a knight in shining armour changes all that. Ondine falls in love with him







and despite warnings from her watery friends from the lake's nether regions, she determines to marry him.






Her parents try to make her see sense






 but to no avail







she's head over heels - her face lights up whenever she sees Hans







and she will listen to no one







This ethereal spirit creature crashes headlong into the petty squabbles and paltry deceptions of human affairs.

One can get hurt that way, and she does.

The two worlds don't mix.







Hans betrays her






and she's heartbroken.






Her mentor from the watery deep, known simply as the Old One, furtively monitors Ondine's travails,







finally offering perfect amnesia as the kindest absolution.

 

 

I felt privileged being in this very small, intimate, natural space which is a wonder.

 

 

 

A few more shots as we were leaving

 



 

 

 

This rock is amazing

 



 

 

 

I wish they would open up the small lake for swimming

 



 

 

 

and hopefully there will be other productions

 



 

 

 

 

You can see here how the stage is partially submerged

 



 

 

 

Finally, on the way out, the main lake.


A wonderful evening.