GODDAMNIT ORPHEUS
We all know the story, its a sad song...
BUT for those that don't (spoiler alert), its basically about the Greek myth of Orpheus and Eurydice. The girl that died, and her lover goes down to the underworld to get her, and convinces Hades with a song. And Hades lets them! But Orpheus can't look at Eurydice until they are out of the underworld. Long story short, HE LOOKS. AND SCREWS IT ALL UP.
So take that, add jazz, dancing, and a killer drop hole thingy/mechanism and you got Hadestown.
I discovered Hadestown a while ago, but I never really got the motivation to rant about it.
UNTIL NOW.
So without further ado, here is my rant on Hadestown.
Casting:
EVA NOBLEZADA MY QUEEN. I kid you not, Eva is one of my idols. She has a soprano vocal range with the capability to hit them alto notes. I loved her interpretation of Eurydice, kind of like a desperate, willing to do whatever neccesary kinda gal. Also her showmance with Reeve (Orpheus) made their onstage chemistry just *chefs kiss*
Reeve Carney. Damn, that man got pipes too. All of Orpheus' "la la la la la la's" are pretty high. like they're in my normal vocal register. I absolutely loved his interpretation of Orpheus. watching any of the slime tutorials with him is just amazing. When Orpheus is making the little paper flower for Eurydice before Come Home with Me, he's just working so hard on that flower, and the whole theatre is literally deathly quiet watching him make a paper flower. Yeah, he's by far my favorite Orpheus.
AMBER GRAY QUEEN!!! I'm not kidding, her acting as Persephone is amazing. She has this spunk, along with plenty sass. It's probably the best rendition of Persephone out of all three that have been on Broadway (Betty Who, and the current Anne DiFranco)
Patrick Page. Those low notes literally give me chills. Patrick Page is the best at playing villians. Try to tell me otherwise. Hades was by far one of my favorite roles that he's played. And the manner that he carried himself on stage as Hades was just *chefs kiss*
*all this input on the actors is based off of slime tutorials that I found off of youtube*
Set:
Its a simple set. One set, no changes. The Walter Kerr is definetly one of the small theatres on Broadway, so it's fitting that Hadestown, a smaller production would be performed there. For me personally, there's just something different about a show when I can see the band onstage. It just hits different, you know?
THE CIRCLE MOVEY THINGY THAT GOES UP AND DOWN.
I don't know what this thing is called, but lemme draw a picture in your brain for you. Imagine the turntable from Hamilton, but the center circle goes down for the entrance to Hadestown, and up for a pedestal for Hades and Persephone. The outer circle moves for the Chant scene, Wait for Me reprise etcetera.
Props (or set pieces?):
My friends and I are in a constant argument about this in general, is a table or chair a prop or set piece? One friend (head of build department) thinks that tables/chairs are set pieces. Other friend (head of props) believes that chairs and tables are props. Me (an actress) thinks that as long as the table/chair gets on stage for the necessary scene, its okay.
But back to the review, There are a few tables (four i think?) plus chairs for said tables, and so its exciting to see them used in scenes like Wedding Song, Way down Hadestown etcetera etcetera. BUT also, when they aren't needed, they're just put on that elevator circle thingy and they go down to the tech people down there! So cool.
One additional note, I love that Hadestown doesn't have any curtains. In my opinion, it creates a more intimate setting in an already intimate and small theatre. (in other words, it reminds me why I like live theatre)
Music:
Anaïs Mitchell is a GODDESS. her music AHHHHH GLORIOUS. from Road to Hell, to All I've Ever Known, to Living it up Ontop, to Chant, to any of the Wait for Me's. like all of the songs in Hadestown, I either want to sing along to, dance along to, or both along to.
LIKE ITS THAT GOOD.
if i ever get to see it (which my birthday is actually kinda soon, so...) i will definetly cry. no joke
well thats it for now, but i will definetly be ranting about some more musicals soon.
either that, or i post a one-shot.
yeah, only time can tell.
OKTYBYEEEE
