Katelynn Singleton, news editor
As someone who considers herself a “recovering theater kid,” I probably know way too much about musical theater. It’s something my friends tease me regularly about, for good reason. It’s embarrassing to admit, but I could probably give you a one-woman show of just about any musical. But out of the hundreds of shows I know, there’s none that I love more than “Hadestown.” The plot, direction and music all work to tell an absolutely beautiful story that I have loved for years.
“Hadestown” is based on the Greek myth of Orpheus and Eurydice. Orpheus is a musician, and when Eurydice dies, he goes to the Underworld to bring her back. Hades lets him take her back, on the condition that he can’t turn around while he’s walking home. Doubt consumes Orpheus as he’s walking back, and he turns to reassure himself that Eurydice is following him, sending her back to the Underworld.
The show discusses love, loss, power and hope all in a two-hour run-time. Although most people already know the end when they walk into the theater, one can’t help but hope that Orpheus and Eurydice get through their struggles and make it out of the Underworld together. The narrator, the Greek god Hermes, addresses this hope throughout the show. In the first and last songs, “Road to Hell,” and “Road to Hell (Reprise),” Hermes sings that the cast will continue to tell the tale of the two lovers, hoping that someday there will be a good ending. They continue again in the face of nearly impossible odds.
The direction of the show also highlights these themes. Lighting plays a crucial role when Orpheus is walking back. The light focuses only on him, leaving Eurydice and the rest of the cast in darkness. The audience can’t see anyone but Orpheus, emphasizing his fear and doubt that Hades has tricked him. When he turns around to look at her, the stage is suddenly washed in light, showing that his tunnel vision has been widened. Eurydice descends on an elevator in the middle of the stage and as she descends, the light slowly dims, once again focusing on Orpheus. Orpheus is alone, this time with no hope of bringing Eurydice back.
The music itself is insanely catchy. Anaïs Mitchell, the writer of the show, is an established folk artist so the show has heavy folk and blues inspiration. Multiple songs have reprises, where the meaning has changed from its first iteration. In the first act, Orpheus and Eurydice sing “Wedding Song,” where they plan their wedding and how nature will provide everything, given that they both are poor. Although not technically a reprise, “Promises” has the same musical theme. This song occurs after they reunite in the underworld, and they agree that while they can’t provide riches, they will promise to stay side-by-side through their struggles. The song is romantic, with a touch of sadness on part of the audience. We know they won’t get the happy ending they’re dreaming of.
After my friends heard me talk about this show for a week, we sat down over the weekend to watch it together. After talking over the first song, they quickly quieted down and became as immersed in the show as I was. They would occasionally ask me to clarify things, but by the middle of the first act, the music and storytelling drew them in. We couldn’t finish the show together, but one by one they texted me after they finished it on their own time and they loved it. If you have a spare couple of hours over the weekend, check out the show. I promise you won’t regret it.