ANDROMAQUE, the 2023 vintage of Les Neptuniens
A photographic presentation of the play staged by the Compagnie Les Neptuniens in 2023 at the CLAVEL theatre in Paris.
The images were selected to illustrate scene after scene the performance and the story written by Jean RACINE. Unfortunately, his writing is missing...
They are accompanied by a commentary summarizing it: To write it I relied on my memories but also on summaries published on several sites: Wikipedia, bacfrançais.com, education.toutcomment.com... Thanks to them.
For those who have seen the play, happy rediscovery! For the others, I hope that these images will make you want to discover it on stage and/or to read Racine's text!
The images were selected to illustrate scene after scene the performance and the story written by Jean RACINE. Unfortunately, his writing is missing...
They are accompanied by a commentary summarizing it: To write it I relied on my memories but also on summaries published on several sites: Wikipedia, bacfrançais.com, education.toutcomment.com... Thanks to them.
For those who have seen the play, happy rediscovery! For the others, I hope that these images will make you want to discover it on stage and/or to read Racine's text!

Andromaque Acte 1 - Scène 1 - 1
In the palace of PYRRHUS, in EPIRE, ORESTE (Thierry LEMOINE) ambassador of the Greeks meets his friend PYLADE (Xavier KUTALIAN).
2023© PascalMorsagne
2023© PascalMorsagne

Andromaque Acte 1 – Scène 1 - 2
ORESTE's mission is to demand that PYRRHUS, king of Epire, delivers to him ASTYANAX, son of ANDROMAQUE. He holds them both prisoners.
2023© PascalMorsagne
2023© PascalMorsagne

Andromaque Acte 1 – Scène 1 - 3
ORESTE has especially another project : to bring back with him his cousin HERMIONE with whom he is madly in love but who wishes to marry PYRRHUS to whom she is promised. ORESTE knows that PYRRHUS disdains her since he fell in love with ANDROMAQUE, his prisoner.
2023© PascalMorsagne
2023© PascalMorsagne

Andromaque Acte 1 – Scène 2 - 4
ORESTE (Thierry LEMOINE) is received by the king PYRRHUS (Guillaume MILLET) and the governor PHOENIX (Julien DUROSIER) his confidant.
2023 © PascalMorsagne
2023 © PascalMorsagne

Andromaque Acte 1 – Scène 2 - 5
ORESTE exposes his request to take ASTYANAX with him, the Greeks fearing that he will try one day to avenge the death of his father and his grandfather, the Trojan kings .
2023 © PascalMorsagne
2023 © PascalMorsagne

Andromaque Acte 1 - Scène 2 – 6
PYRRHUS firmly refuses to yield to the request of the Greeks and seems ready for war.
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2023 © PascalMorsagne

Andromaque Acte 1 - Scène 3 – 7
PHOENIX (Julien DUROSIER) worries that PYRRHUS has proposed to ORESTE to visit HERMIONE, his bride. One guesses that PYRRHUS would not be annoyed if they returned together to Greece .
2023 © PascalMorsagne
2023 © PascalMorsagne

Andromaque Acte 1 - Scène 4 - 8
CEPHISE (Juliette BRIDIER) enters the scene with ANDROMAQUE (Marie VALENTIN)
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2023 © PascalMorsagne

Andromaque Act 1 - Scene 4 - 9
ANDROMAQUE listens to PYRRHUS informing him of ORESTE's request .
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2023 © PascalMorsagne

Andromaque Acte 1 - Scène 4 - 12
... She will agree to be less rebellious to his love...
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2023 © PascalMorsagne

Andromaque Acte 1 – Scène 4 - 13
... and he informs her of his refusal to deliver his son ASTYANAX to the Greeks.
2023 © PascalMorsagne
2023 © PascalMorsagne

Andromaque Acte 1 – Scène 4 - 17
ANDROMAQUE takes refuge with CEPHISE, PYRRHUS declares her that he will protect the child if she agrees to marry him.
2023 © PascalMorsagne
2023 © PascalMorsagne

Andromaque Acte 1 - Scène 4 - 18
Andromache refuses out of respect for the memory of her husband HECTOR, murdered by ACHILLE PYRRHUS' father.
2023 © PascalMorsagne
2023 © PascalMorsagne

Andromaque Acte 1 - Scène 4 – 19
Furious, PYRRHUS threatens to deliver ASTYANAX to the Greeks.
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2023 © PascalMorsagne

Andromaque Acte 1 - Scène 4 – 20
CEPHISE (Juliette BRIDIER) and ANDROMAQUE (Marie VALENTIN)
2023 © PascalMorsagne
2023 © PascalMorsagne

Andromaque Acte 2 - Scène 1 -21
HERMIONE (Alice GARREZ) confides in CLEONE (Simmone JADIN) . She feels humiliated by Pyrrhus who has declared himself to Andromaque.
2023 © PascalMorsagne
2023 © PascalMorsagne

Andromaque Acte 2 – Scène 1 – 22
HERMIONE reluctantly accepts to receive ORESTE, CLEONE advises her to return to Greece with him .
2023 © PascalMorsagne
2023 © PascalMorsagne

Andromaque Acte 2 – Scène 1 – 23
HERMIONE refuses because she still hopes that PYRRHUS will return to her.
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2023 © PascalMorsagne

Andromaque Acte 2 – Scène 2 – 24
CLEONE (Simmone JADIN), HERMIONE (Alice GARREZ) and ORESTE (Thierry LEMOINE)
2023 © PascalMorsagne
2023 © PascalMorsagne

Andromaque Acte 2 – Scène 2 – 25
ORESTE explains to HERMIONE that PYRRHUS refuses to deliver ASTYANAX to the Greeks undoubtedly by love of ANDROMAQUE. He declares his love for her again.
2023 © PascalMorsagne
2023 © PascalMorsagne

Andromaque Acte 2 – Scène 2 – 26
HERMIONE refuses to leave Epirus and PYRRHUS but she authorizes ORESTE to ask him to choose between ASTYANAX and her ...
2023 © PascalMorsagne
2023 © PascalMorsagne

Andromaque Acte 2 – Scène 2 – 27
If he chooses ASTYANAX, thus ANDROMAQUE, she will leave with him...
2023 © PascalMorsagne
2023 © PascalMorsagne

Andromaque Acte 2 - Scène 3 - 28
ORESTE (Thierry LEMOINE) is crazy with joy, he is persuaded that PYRRHUS will choose ANDROMAQUE and that he will be able to leave with HERMIONE.
2023 © PascalMorsagne
2023 © PascalMorsagne

Andromaque Acte 2 – Scène 4 – 29
Contrary to ORESTE's wishes and to follow PHOENIX's advice, PYRRHUS announces that he has decided to deliver ASTYANAX to the Greeks and to marry HERMIONE...
2023 © PascalMorsagne
2023 © PascalMorsagne

Andromaque Acte 2 – Scène 4 – 30
PYRRHUS does not support that ANDROMAQUE refused his proposal.
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2023 © PascalMorsagne

Andromaque Acte 2 – Scène 5 – 31
PYRRHUS (Guillaume MILLET) would be ready to provoke ANDROMAQUE with this decision but PHOENIX (Julien DUROSIER) dissuades him.
2023 © PascalMorsagne
2023 © PascalMorsagne

Andromaque Acte 2 – Scène 5 – 32
PYRRHUS affirms that he will keep his promise to HERMIONE.
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2023 © PascalMorsagne

Andromaque Acte 3 - Scène 1 - 33
PYRRHUS announced his marriage with HERMIONE, ORESTE is furious.
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2023 © PascalMorsagne

Andromaque Acte 3 – Scène 1 -34
ORESTE (Thierry LEMOINE) finds PYLADE (Xavier KUTALIAN) and declares to him that he wants to kidnap HERMIONE.
2023 © PascalMorsagne
2023 © PascalMorsagne

Andromaque Acte 3 - Scène 1 - 35
PYLADE invites him not to speak about his project.
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2023 © PascalMorsagne

Andromaque Acte 3 – Scène 1 -36
PYLADE, although worried, decides not to abandon his friend...
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2023 © PascalMorsagne

Andromaque Acte 3 - Scène 2 - 38
... In front of him, she is delighted that PYRRHUS returned to her. ORESTE hides his disappointment and his project of kidnapping.
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2023 © PascalMorsagne

Andromaque Acte 3 - Scène 3 – 39
HERMIONE (Alice GARREZ) exults, she celebrates the exploits of PYRRHUS while forgetting the evil that he could make her.
2023 © PascalMorsagne
2023 © PascalMorsagne

Andromaque Acte 3 - Scène 4 - 40
Informed of the decision of PYRRHUS, ANDROMAQUE (Marie VALENTIN) accompanied by CEPHISE (Juliette BRIDIER), meets HERMIONE to implore her to influence PYRRHUS so that he renounces to deliver ASTYANAX to the Greeks.
2023 © PascalMorsagne
2023 © PascalMorsagne

Andromaque Acte 3 - Scène 4 – 41
Annoyed, HERMIONE triumphantly refuses to help ANDROMAQUE and his son.
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2023 © PascalMorsagne

Andromaque Acte 3 - Scène 5 – 42
ANDROMAQUE is desperate and furious in front of HERMIONE's reaction, CEPHISE advises her to meet PYRRHUS.
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2023 © PascalMorsagne

Andromaque Acte 3 - Scène 8 – 51
She will thus be able to save her son and guarantee a descent to Hector.
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2023 © PascalMorsagne

Andromaque Acte 3 - Scène 8 – 52
ANDROMAQUE is torn in front of this " racinian " choice.
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2023 © PascalMorsagne

Andromaque Acte 3 - Scène 8 – 53
She reminds CEPHISE of the war and her mourning
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2023 © PascalMorsagne

Adromaque Acte 4 Scène 1 - 57
ANDROMAQUE (Marie VALENTIN) explains to CEPHISE (Juliette DUROSIER) that she has decided to marry PYRRHUS...
2023 © PascalMorsagneS ...
2023 © PascalMorsagneS ...

Andromaque Acte 4 - Scène 1 – 58
This will allow her to protect the life of ASTANYAX, whose father PYRRHUS will become and will therefore no longer be able to deliver him to the Greeks.
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2023 © PascalMorsagne

Andromaque Acte 4 - Scène 1 – 59
However, in order to respect her commitment to her dead husband, she will take her own life after her wedding and wishes that CEPHISE will watch over her son...
2023 © PascalMorsagne
2023 © PascalMorsagne

Andromaque Acte 4 - Scène 1 – 60
CEPHISE tries to dissuade her from committing suicide.
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2023 © PascalMorsagne

Andromaque Acte 4 - Scène 2 – 61
CLEONE informs HERMIONE that PYRRHUS is going to marry ANDROMAQUE.
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2023 © PascalMorsagne

Andromaque Acte 4 - Scène 2 – 62
ANDROMAQUE (Alice GARREZ)and CLEONE (Simonne JADIN)
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2023 © PascalMorsagne

Andromaque Acte 4 - Scène 3 – 64
HERMIONE asks ORESTE if he loves her. He assures her of his passion.
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2023 © PascalMorsagne

Andromaque Acte 4 - Scène 3 – 65
Andromaque then asks him to kill PYRRHUS before his wedding to avenge her and wash away his disgrace.
2023 © PascalMorsagne
2023 © PascalMorsagne

Andromaque Acte 4 - Scène 4 – 67
CLEONE tries to reason with HERMIONE, who is determined to take revenge. PYRRHUS enters the scene. HERMIONE sends CLEONE to order ORESTE to do nothing against PYRRHUS without consulting her.
2023 © PascalMorsagne
2023 © PascalMorsagne

Andromaque Acte 4 - Scène 5 - 68
PYRRHUS announces to HERMIONE that he has decided to marry ANDROMAQUE .
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2023 © PascalMorsagne

Andromaque Acte 4 - Scène 5 – 69
Faced with HERMIONE's dismay, he tries to justify himself...
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2023 © PascalMorsagne

Andromaque Acte 4 - Scène 5 – 71
HERMIONE is mad with pain and rage. She threatens him.
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2023 © PascalMorsagne

Andromaque Acte 4 - Scène 5 – 72
The tension between the characters is at its height
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2023 © PascalMorsagne

Andromaque Acte 4 - Scène 5 – 73
PHOENIX (Julien DUROSIER) PYRRHUS (Guillaume MILLET) and HERMIONE (Alice GARREZ)
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2023 © PascalMorsagne

Andromaque Acte 4 - Scène 6 – 75
PHOENIX warns PYRRHUS about HERMIONE's threats, which he ignores.
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2023 © PascalMorsagne

Andromaque Acte 5 - Scène 1 – 76
HERMIONE (Alice GARREZ) questions her plans: her pride demands the death of PYRRHUS...
2023 © PascalMorsagne
2023 © PascalMorsagne

Andromaque Acte 5 - Scène 1 – 77
... but her love wishes to spare her and she regrets having asked ORESTE to murder her.
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2023 © PascalMorsagne

Andromaque Acte 5 - Scène 2 – 78
CLEONE (Simonne JADIN) tells her that she saw PYRRHUS beaming at his wedding...
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2023 © PascalMorsagne

Andromaque Acte 5 - Scène 3 – 80
ORESTE arrives, he announces to HERMIONE that the Greeks have killed PYRRHUS
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2023 © PascalMorsagne

Andromaque Acte 5 - Scène 3 – 81
ORESTE hopes to see his love and murder rewarded
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2023 © PascalMorsagne

Andromaque Acte 5 - Scène 3 – 84
ORESTE (Thierry LEMOINE) and HERMIONE (Alice GARREZ)
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2023 © PascalMorsagne

Andromaque Acte 5 - Scène 5 – 87
PYLADE (Xavier KUTALIAN) informs ORESTE that HERMIONE has committed suicide on the coffin of PYRRHUS...
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2023 © PascalMorsagne

Andromaque Acte 5 - Scène 5 – 88
... and that ANDROMAQUE, who is seeking revenge for the death of his second husband, is looking for him. He sinks into madness. PYLADES saves him by fleeing the city.
2023 © PascalMorsagne
2023 © PascalMorsagne

Andromaque Acte 5 - Scène 5 – 89
ANDROMAQUE is considered Queen of EPIRE and has the Greeks driven out of the city.
She and her son survive the tragedy.
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She and her son survive the tragedy.
2023 © PascalMorsagne