Hadestown - Tour at the Orpheum

Photo: Evan Zimmerman for MurphyMade

 Hadestown opened last night at the Orpheum Theatre and it was magnificent. It is here for a quick stop, till Feb 16th, and I will just say get your tickets now! This is a must-see.

Why is it a must-see? Well, let me tell you some things about the show first (I realize I sound like one of those recipe pages, if you know you know). Hadestown started out as an album by Anaïs Mitchell back in 2010. Mitchell is a singer/songwriter in the folk tradition and this album was a collection of songs that loosely told the story of Orpheus and Eurydice. It featured Mitchell as Eurydice, Justin Vernon (Bon Iver) as Orpheus, Ani DiFranco as Persephone, Greg Brown as Hades, Ben Knox Miller (from The Low Anthem) as Hermes, and finally Petra, Rachel, and Tanya Haden as the Fates. That is a fantastic collection of really great folk singers telling a story, that we all know, through song. From there, the show was developed with Rachel Chavkin and moved to the New York Theatre Workshop. At this point, the incredible Patrick Page played Hades, with Amber Gray as Persephone - roles they continued playing on Broadway, and even the West End. This was also the second recording of the show - some lyric changes, some songs added, filling out the story. (If you want to dive into the differences, Mitchell put out a book of the lyrics named "Working on a Song.") Then the show went to Broadway, and came out with the Broadway Cast Recording - with Page and Gray, along with Andre de Shields as Hermes, Reeve Carney as Orpheus, Eva Noblezada as Eurydice, and The Fates being played by Jewelle Blackman, Kay Trinidad, and Yvette Gonzalez-Nacer. This production went on to be nominated for 14 Tony Awards, and won eight of them including Best Musical, and Best Original Score. So that should give you an idea of what you are in for - brilliance.

Photo: Evan Zimmerman for MurphyMade

The story is, as they say in the show, an old song, an old tale from way back when. Based on the Greek myth of Orpheus and Eurydice, the show takes us through the events. The band and cast walk on stage, mingle, greet each other and some of the audience up close, and take their places. Hermes (played by Jaylon C. Crump) leads us on this journey. He introduces the characters of Hades (Nickolaus Colón), Persephone (Namisa Mdlalose Bizana), Eurydice (Megan Colton), Orpheus (Bryan Munar), and the Fates (Katelyn Crall, Miriam Navarrete, and Alli Sutton). There is also a Workers Chorus (Randy Cain, Miracle Myles, Kaitlyn O'Leary, Mikaela Rada, and Joe Rumi) who help tell the story through backing vocals, and movement. The show is almost sung through, or at least it seems like there is music through out. This makes sense as Orpheus is known as a musician, and a singer - a creator of worlds through music and song. And that right there is key. At the start of the show, we hear that the seasons are out of order, the world is not right. Spring and summer are short (if they happen at all) and winter is long and cold. Orpheus is working on a song to set the world back into balance. He meets Eurydice, they fall in love instantly, and start to create a life. As this life is hard, and cold, and they need food and wood for heat - Eurydice heads out to find it, while Orpheus works on his song. There is trust and love there. Events take place and Eurydice meets Hades, is charmed by him and knows that she will be fed, and warm. Though she calls out for Orpheus, he is engrossed in his song creation that he doesn't hear her until it is too late and she is gone down to Hadestown. Orpheus realizes what he has lost and knows that he must follow her and bring her back. 

Photo: Evan Zimmerman for MurphyMade

I think the timing of this show is perfect. There are numerous mentions of the weather being cold, dark, windy, and the desire to see blue sky, and the sun, and flowers...which as someone living in MN in Feb, I can relate. There are some really incredible connections that can be made to our current political climate, as well as the changes in our actual climate - it is there if you want to see it. The set is made of a number of layers around an empty circular playing space - like a Greek Amphitheatre. The band is on stage through out, and are introduced at the top of Act Two. There is a feel of community on stage that brings the audience right in to the story the cast is telling. Every one on that stage was perfectly cast, and it was a joy seeing such a variety of body shapes, and colors. Everyone in the audience was reflected on stage and that can be rare sometimes. The music has a New Orleans feel (trombone, accordion, piano, bass, cello, violin) often, along with folk (guitar/voice). The voices are all strong, the movements are perfect. The show is a brilliant show, and there is not a wasted moment on stage, nor a wasted movement. Everything fits together perfectly in order to tell this story. The story of Orpheus and Eurydice that we all know ends tragically - and yet when that moment came on stage it was still a shock. The story is being told again, in hopes that change may happen - and as an audience member, I was there hoping that there would be a different outcome, expecting the power of love, trust, music to overcome obstacles of doubt. Like the show itself, I want to see it again, I want to experience this journey again.

Just a few notes though for the audience. If you are one that leaves during the curtain call to get to your car right away... don't. You will be missing a song that the cast sings to close the night out, and it really is a wonderful moment. That being said, go get your tickets now. If you miss this production, keep your eyes out for the next time it tours as it is a brilliant work of art. Or you could see it in London, or Broadway. 

Sidebar: There are so many books and films that tell this story. I would recommend the film by Jean Cocteau - an amazing surrealistic telling of this story. I would also recommend the book #Gods by Matthew Gallaway. It is a fascinating read that ends with a retelling of this story through the eyes of Orpheus.