I FINALLY got to see Hadestown on Broadway and I am so glad I did! I really enjoyed it. Here are my thoughts:
What’s it about?
Hadestown is a modern re-telling of the Greek myth Orpheus and Eurydice. This version begins in a winter of economic depression on Earth. Young Eurydice is married to Orpheus, a poet. Completely obsessed with creating the perfect love song, Orpheus does not realize when his bride leaves in search of sustenance. She basically sells her soul to the devil in exchange for a life in Hell. Hell is a capitalist state run by the slave driver Hades. Hades’ workers are building a wall to separate their industrial nation from the poor on Earth. (Hmmmm….Ringing bells in the era of Donald Trump?!?).
So what happens? I shall provide no spoilers for those who are not familiar with the ending of the myth…except to say this story does not come with a “happily-ever-after”.
The Music
- First, I must state that this is the first musical score since Hamilton that I want to download.
- The music is a successful blend of jazz and the blues with flavors of funky soul, rock and roll, folk and gospel. It is original and interesting and catchy.
- Anais Mitchell writes poetic and engaging lyrics.
- The small band is great. They remain on stage throughout the show and participate in the action at times, which is really fun.
The Performers
- Andre De Shields plays Hermes, the conductor who guides souls onto the train bound for Hell. I totally get why he won the Tony Award for best featured actor in a musical. He has incredible stage presence, he is light on his feet, and his voice is amazing.
- It is hard to imagine anyone better than Amber Gray for the role of a tragic, drunken Persephone. I couldn’t get enough of her raspy voice and marionette-like dance moves.
- Patrick Page is very believable as Hades. His deep (Barry White like) bass and his serious facial expressions couldn’t be more menacing.
- Eva Noblezada is adorable as Eurydice. Her beautiful singing voice is sweet and has an innocent quality which very much suits her character.
- I’m certain many will disagree, but the only low point for me was Reeve Carney, who plays Orpheus. I found his falsetto incredibly annoying. It was jarring and grating and it often jerked me right out of the world of Hadestown back into the New York City streets.
- Sadly, I did not sense any chemistry between the actors who played the young lovers (Orpheus and Eurydice), so I did not route for their romance. This almost does not matter, as the rest of the cast was so brilliant.
Staging
- The set up of the circular revolving stage is innovative. We sat in the front of the mezzanine. I usually prefer the orchestra, but I liked our spot for Hadestown because we could watch the characters descend into Hell.
- The lighting is excellent. I especially enjoyed the dance using the swinging light fixtures.
- The costumes go well with the story and the characters.
Is Hadestown on Broadway good for kids?
Unless your young child is very comfortable with a dark theme and familiar with Greek mythology, I would say this show is not a good choice. The story is about Hell and the ending is harsh. At times, the cacophony of music in minor keys alone is so dark and foreboding. I would say Hadestown on Broadway is best for children over the age of 12. For now, I am going to hold off taking my 9 year old twins, and revisit this in a year or two.
What’s the bottom line?
Hadestown on Broadway is so good in so many ways. The music is phenomenal and so are almost all of the performers. Despite the fact that the plot is familiar, there are many novel twists and turns that keep the show compelling. I highly recommend going to see this show!