ABSTRACT
The actors took their curtain call, marking the end of the dress rehearsal. From the back of the Pearl Theatre, the draper breathed a sigh of relief—the designer (the author) was happy, the leading ladies were happy, and the director seemed preoccupied with the lighting. She could declare these costumes done and move on to her next project. The overall look of this Off Broadway production was simple and elegant, much more so than the construction process had been. For this version of the classical tragedy Andromache, the title character wore a loose underdress pulled in by a corset-like bodice, giving her the more “foreign” look called for by the storyline. The other leading lady, Hermione, had an elegant empire-waisted gown, a modernized take on ancient Greek drapery. Although Andromache’s corseted look appeared more complex, Hermione’s dress had actually been the greater challenge for the draper. Shaping the upper edge of the corset to sit just below the bust line took some finesse, but fitting a shape tightly to an actress’ curves is relatively simple—it’s either right or it’s wrong. Sculpting Hermione’s dress so that the fabric would fall in fluttery waves without hiding the actress’ body like a tent had been an ordeal. At the draper’s suggestion, the designer had already made a change from the initial sketch prior to the fitting, reducing the volume of the skirts to lie flatter over the stomach.
