Madrigal:  Decorations

Art Director Interview Construction Historical Notes

How to Constuct Your Madrigal Dinner Setting

In order to construct a set that is right for any setting, look at the area that is going to be worked with. If there is a lot of time and space, the set can be extremely extravagant. If not, there are many other options that can be used to make the set realistic and beautiful.

Many examples of madrigal dinners will place a large banquet table near the front of the room. This table is placed in the most visible area so all of the guests can arrange themselves to see the stage. Most of the action will take place near this table, although in most madrigal scripts, there are periods of time where performers are asked to walk through the seated audience.

Another common way of decorating the dinning area is to hang artwork or banners on the walls. Long pieces of fabric can also be draped across the ceiling, as long as it doesn’t hang to low and graze guests’ heads or interfere with their views. This helps to achieve a castle-like look without changing the entire room.

If time allows, painted paper can be hung along the walls, covering them completely to recreate the room setting you want. This is only suggested if this madrigal is to be repeated and items can be reused.

Decorating the Guests’ Tables

How elegantly the dinning tables are set depends on how many guests are attending and the amount of money available. The most important thing to remember is not to over crowd the guests while they are eating. The more personal space people have the more comfortable they are.

The basic eating utensils are of course required, but don’t over do it. Only give the guests what they need. Water glasses and coffee cups are also a must. If materials are available, table cloths and centerpieces always add a lot to the atmosphere.

Bread and butter are usually present on the table before the audience arrives, but this is optional. If this is to be used, don’t forget to give the guests a bread plate or something that could be used as a bread plate. Overall, the idea is to make the performance look well planned out even before it starts. The nicer the room looks the more respect the audience will have for the performers and everyone who assisted with the madrigal.