To a casual observer, theatre shows about mythology are few and far between, and maybe for good reason. If it's not in the bible, or a new take on an existing classic film/novel, a lot of the really good and tragic tales that have come from cultures all over the world are not easy to convince an audience to see on stage without that prior knowledge.
Hadestown is a musical based on the Greek mythology around Eurydice and Orpheus, two star-crossed lovers that are separated when Eurydice ends up in the underworld, a kingdom that is famously ruled by Hades. Orpheus, having fallen in love with Eurydice, attempts to rescue her.
There was a lot about this musical that impressed me straight off the bat, such as the musical score, the staging, and the sheer talent of the cast. With such strong leads such as Melanie La Barrie, Rachel Tucker, and Trevor Dion Nicholas to name but a few, the production was never going to fall flat musically, and indeed each of them gave powerful performances that never failed to evoke an emotion to some degree. I was also particularly impressed by the women who played the Fates, namely Bella Brown, Francesca Daniella-Baker, Lauren Azania, as their harmonies were just outstanding.
I think the volume of the music did drown out a little some of the lyrics that were being sung to narrate the story, so I did lose a little bit of the story from the first act, and that maybe was why narrative wise I wasn't completely sure who was what, and what was going on. I did manage to pick it up and the second half was a lot stronger narrative wise.
Not all of the songs I'd say are particularly gripping or memorable, but the ones that were, stay with you long after you are home for the evening. "Wait For Me" in particular was a personal favourite, and it is a fan favourite as well if you know anything about musical theatre fandom, but I also enjoyed "Why We Build the Wall", which I thought had some powerful lines that represented the rich vs poor culture we see even to this day.
The turntable is a particularly favourite tool of mine that is used in a lot of productions, Hamilton probably being the most notable in recent years. I really liked its use in scenes when any of the characters had to undertake a journey, as with the combined low lighting and gentle accompanying music, it was very easy to feel like they were really walking a great distance, and not just following the movement of the turntable.
I do love as well that it is becoming more and more of a thing to have the orchestra become part of the cast, and be present on stage. Not only does it bolster the sound, but it is also really lovely to see the faces behind those that help produce the scores and sounds that bring life to the stories that are told within the walls of our favourite theatre.
I think it is important to continue to acknowledge in theatre the key roles orchestras, sound engineers, lighting and technology specialists, as well as costume designers, hair and make up specialists, amongst so many other jobs behind the scenes, play in helping sell a story to its audience.
I do feel Hadestown was slightly overhyped but what it was, but I do have to commend it on it being something different, whilst also remaining respectful to the origins of the tale. The talent of the cast and crew is second to none, and I think there is a lot for audiences to enjoy, even if you aren't familiar with Greek mythology.
I do also think that Madeline Charlemagne and Dylan Wood, who played Eurydice and Orpheus respectively, also were extremely talented and hopefully have even further to go in the world of musical theatre, as they gave dynamic performances and commanded the stage in their own ways, and just worked really well together as well.
Overall, a really enjoyable show, and a good piece of theatre which entertains and educates about the power of love, but at the same time cautions against the cost one can occur from a broken promise and contract.
⭐⭐⭐
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