What's the Broadway Buzz? Hadestown

 

“What’s the Broadway Buzz” is the name of my new series of blog posts where I focus on shows that are currently on Broadway (or on Broadway Tours) and haven’t been presented by Broadway Theatre League… YET! Today let’s talk about Hadestown. As succinctly stated in Playbill:

 

“Welcome to Hadestown, where a song can change your fate. This acclaimed musical by singer-songwriter Anaïs Mitchell and director Rachel Chavkin is winner of 8 Tony Awards including Best Musical and the Grammy Award for Best Musical Theater Album. It intertwines two mythic tales – that of young dreamers Orpheus and Eurydice, and that of King Hades and his wife Persephone – as it takes you on an unforgettable journey to the underworld and back. Performed by a vibrant ensemble of actors, singers and dancers, Hadestown invites you to imagine how the world could be.”

Hadestown has garnered the special reputation of being able to impart a distinct and different message to each theatergoer, based on their clear and individual preferences. Which I believe is at least partly responsible for its enduring appeal and ability to fascinate audiences worldwide. Different people connect to different things in the show. Thus their own experience is unique to them and not necessarily the same for others. 

For instance there is the relationship between Hades and Persephone. It had once been passionate and loving, but now appears to be only a shell of what it had once been, underscoring the difficulties in relationships and the resentment that can creep into partnerships that were once based on love. For some this will be the the relationship that bonds them to Hadestown.

Then there is the story of the ill-fated lovers, Orpheus and Eurydice. Though devastating, their story serves as a testament to the strength of love and the lengths people would go to in order to win it. Maybe their relationship is the one that you connect with instead? It represents the fears that are present in even the most ardent of love tales. Many people can relate to their journey, which is full of optimism, anguish, and yearning. It serves as a reminder of the brittle nature of love and the outside factors that frequently put it to the test. And dear Orpheus, UGH, why did you have to turn around?

The message of Hadestown feels so inclusive to me. Even though the story is basically a version of an old Greek myth, it also feels so current. It's evidence that despite the passing of time, human nature - our aspirations, anxieties, and struggles - remains the same. Hadestown is a reflection of itself. It's an examination of our world, our joys, our anxieties and our problems: Serving as a reminder of life's cycles, the repeated events of the past, and the external nature of historical rivalries with others but also within ourselves. 

Hadestown is more than just a big, splashy musical with exciting choreography and a score full of memorable Rhythm & Blues/Folksy tunes. It's an encounter and a voyage that demands reflection. A brilliant fusion of music, narrative, dance and theatricality that profoundly affects the spirit. And you'll be thinking about it long after the curtain call. And who knows, maybe you'll find yourself inspired to examine the intricate web of Greek tales in search of clarification and introspection. 

For me personally, Hadestown is hopeful, uplifting, exhilarating, frustrating and bittersweet. Or in simpler terms it's "Happy/Sad". And "Happy/Sad" things are my favorite things.

" 'Cause here's the thing

   To know how it ends

   And still begin to sing it again

   As if it might turn out this time

   I learned that from a friend of mine."

                           - Hermes