A Stainless-Steel “Werther”

Lyric Opera Of Chicago’s “Werther”, with its stainless-steel unit set.

Werther himself remained in a cubbyhole at the front foot of the stage, imagining the opera’s events, while the opera was acted out above and behind him, using mimes as necessary.

As Werther fantasized about Charlotte, the heroine’s name was projected, in giant red letters, on the blank façade at the foot of stage left.

The mid-stage overhang projection represented “summer”. Each change of season was marked by a similar projection.

The piles of junk on stage right represented the belongings of Charlotte’s long-deceased mother.

Apparently no one had ever had an opportunity, despite the passing of many years, to cart away Charlotte’s mother’s junk.