@RickiTarr If I had to guess, I'd say it reminds the audience what plays are actually about (plays are about pretending and playing!) You could also make the a related case about being able to see brushstrokes in art. Knowing how something happens can be a powerful reminder about the phenomena and miracle we contribute as observers to see it.

@RickiTarr Being able to understand how a story is put together invites engagement. This is also the reason why Guillermo del Toro will include a physical full size set piece in every shot, even if everything else is in the frame, the physical item anchors both the audience and the players.

@RickiTarr I agree with your stance. As a matter of fact - while this is not about beautiful things - it is the reason why older visual effects in horror movies are more effective than new cgi effects. I remembered the makers of Nightmare on Elm Street 3 discussing physically making the Freddy worm puppet. When the audience can see how something is made, it actually makes it more fun to watch.

@tiamat271 Rocks can form shelter for bugs, worms, even small plants and moss. They get hot, but they can still be mini refuges for small life. You could try growing some hardy native/ non invasive plants around them, maybe including some shrubs to get a few layers of plants going. That helps water evaporation, and makes homes for lots of life.

@tiamat271 Might depend on the fabric. This kind will fall apart:
https://www.masseys-diy.co.uk/product/weed-control-fabric-landscape-fabric-1m-x-15m/
but this kind might not:
https://www.walmart.com/ip/4-x-100ft-Premium-5oz-Pro-Garden-Weed-Barrier-Landscape-Fabric-Weed-Cloth-Easy-Setup-Commercial-Ground-Cover/886602019

@tiamat271 If you want to grow stuff over it you can probs put a layer of soil and compost, and then some mulch over it, and whatever takes root may establish roots right through the fabric. I'm a big fan of leaf mulch and animal poop compost, heck you could probably find some neighbors somewhere with some free fill you can add to fill out the soil.

@tiamat271 the rocks sound like a pretty cool landscaping element, and depending on the rainfall and your current drainage system, rocks can be really fantastic drainage components. Most weed fabric will eventually disintegrate, so you might not have to remove it.

@stevenray Furiosa or Furriosa?