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Didn’t really understand the show
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I watched the show recently Sadly it was hard to hear sometimes talking for the first half, but I found it pretty confusing. I’ve written what I understand, but if anyone can read and help me understand the rest, would be happy.
All I got was the boy has powers that can bring summer to the place they live, and if they don’t have summer they would all freeze or be very ill, but the only way to bring summer is for him to finish making a song.
The girl makes a deal with hades, to leave the place she lives and work for him, and she will be safe and not hungry or cold.
The boy finds her and brings her back but the only way they can leave is if they don’t turn around to see if they are following each other but they did.
I didnt understand anything else in the show For example why he keeps people trap there and what the walls are for. And what hades wants them to do to work for him, and why do they forget people
I also didn’t understand anything else like if the boy could hear the girl why would he turn around, and could he go back to visit the girl.
And why did the ending go back in time to when they first met.
If anyone can help me understand the show I would be happy.
I did try to understand it.
Top Comment: Hades, the guy who runs Hadestown, is the God of Death, and his domain of the underworld in the show is for the dead. Eurydice (girl) making the deal was basically her dying, trading a hard life for a simple death, though I think the OG myth she just dies rather than make a specific deal. Hadestown is a reimagined Underworld, where Hades is so consumed by greed and power that he wants to build a wall around his kingdom so nobody else can get in. As the "why we build the wall" song goes, they build the wall to keep anyone Hades doesn't want out. People in his domain forget, as I believe most of where the "workers" (dead people) exist in is the Fields of Asphodel, where spirits kinda drift forever and forget themselves over time. Part of why Orpheus (boy) wasn't allowed to turn back is it's part of Hades' final test - Orpheus impressed Hades with his magical song, but Hades doesn't want to make it easy. The challenge is that Orpheus Doubts and starts to believe that Eurydice isn't actually there - so, he turns back, looking for her and breaking the terms of the deal Hades set. That's the tragedy of their story - though they love each other, doubt comes in (as the song goes) and he turns around, losing her. Orpheus even getting into the underworld is tricky - he's not supposed to even be in there so that's why he sneaks on. Hadestown isn't somewhere you're supposed to be able to just go when you're alive. He only got in because he's protected by Hermes (a god). So, Eurydice is stuck in the Underworld, in Hades' grasp, away from Orpheus, who has to live his life without her knowing he failed his one chance to save her. It resets at the end because it's technically not the Actual Story - it's a bit meta, but the idea is that even though it ended in tragedy, it's a good story and to honour their love ("it's a sad song but we're gonna sing it anyway), and Hermes keeps telling the story, always hoping in vain it won't end the same way. There's some great meta out there about the show being a sort of time loop, or a straight up haunting. Hope that helps!
Told a friend not to research or look up anything about Hadestown before she saw it.
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I have been dying to see Hadestown since I first heard the cast album. I finally got to see the touring production on Wednesday when it (surprisingly) came to our city. I absolutely loved it.
Friend of mine also has a subscription to all the Broadway Across Canada shows and went last night. She had never heard of the show, didn’t know anything about it. I suggested she go in blind as I thought it would be great to see it with no prior context. She texted me last night that she and her boyfriend left at the interval as they did not like it at all.
Thinking I maybe gave bad advice and should have told her to get a bit of background on it first so she knew the style of the show.
Edit: thanks for all the comments everyone. I know it’s not my fault that someone doesn’t like something. That’s the great thing about art, it gives people different reactions. I just wondered. For me, a show would have to be TRULY awful for me to leave at the interval. I’ve sat through some stinkers. (A production of Young Frankenstein where most of the cast couldn’t sing and a production of Take Me Out where I’m sure they just did it because they wanted to be naked on stage. Also note, I love the material in both of those, just not the productions I saw).
Top Comment: Honestly Hadestown isn’t a show I would have enjoyed if I went in blind. It took my a couple of years to really get into it
Just saw Hadestown - please explain the ending to me
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I just saw Hadestown at the Toronto performance. I didn't know anything about it and I came away a fan. The only part I'm confused about it is the ending pertaining to Orpheus and Eurydice. I understand the spring myth with Hades and Persephone, but are they implying that Orpheus and Eurydice have to repeat their story each year? Why the stage reset and the Road to Hell reprise?
Edit: thank you for the great answers
Top Comment: The traditional Greek myth is a tragedy, ending with Orpheus looking back, and Eurydice falling back down to the underworld. Hadestown stays true to this ending, but adds an extra layer to it with Road To Hell Reprise. One of the big themes of the show is that "Orpheus could see how the world could be, in spite of the way that it is." It's a message of hope, and how despite how things are, maybe one day things will go right. This applies to the audience experiencing the story as well. So they sing the song again and again, until maybe one day it might work out for Orpheus and Eurydice. It's not certain, but the idea is that they have hope that eventually, it'll work out for them. I find it incredibly clever because it's also a way of giving the show a metatextual reason why the actors continue to perform the show again and again year round. Because maybe one day, it'll all work out. Hermes in RTH Reprise sums up the moral pretty well imo: It's a sad song. It's a sad tale. It's a tragedy. But we sing it anyway. Cause here's the thing. To know how it ends, yet still begin to sing it again, as if it might turn out this time. I learned that from a friend of mine * looks at Orpheus * Edit: I may be biased having only seen the show on Broadway, but from the clips I've seen of the current touring Hermes, I absolutely cannot stand his interpretation and I wonder if his lack of subtlety is part of why the ending may not have connected for you. I recommend watching this clip of Andre De Shields, the original Hermes on Broadway. He is fantastic, and adds SO much weight to the ending https://youtu.be/56UOHgtY-Vs
I just saw Hadestown with the most recent cast and I have to talk about it
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I don’t even know what to say. Hadestown is the first broadway show I’ve ever seen (I love theater though) and it has truly, deeply impacted my life. I haven’t been able to stop thinking about it. I’ve been obsessing over the album and reading all about it.
The cast was perfect for their characters. The music was phenomenal. I almost started crying from the very first intro song because the energy was so powerful in that room. I sobbed multiple times. I don’t even know where to put all this emotion 😭
Ali Louis as Orpheus was magical. I wish I could cross paths with him lmao. I will be making another trip to NYC to see this cast again before I never see them again. Does anyone know how long the seasons/casts usually run for these shows??
Top Comment: Ali is my new favorite Orpheus, he is such a star!
Someone recommended Hadestown for an upcoming NYC visit. I've never heard of it. Please tell me the good and bad. Is it a show I should see?
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And where should I buy tickets - for any show?
Thanks everyone!
Top Comment: It’s a retelling of the Orpheus and Eurydice myth, with a folk and Americana aesthetic. I absolutely love it. It’s got a lot of depth and absolutely gorgeous music. And it might just break your heart. The set design is perfect for the show, but if you want razzle dazzle glitz and spectacle it’s not the one to go for.
Why is This Show So Good?
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I’ve seen some trailers and it interests me. Also very interested in some of the characters from mythology. The cost of the tickets is an uncomfortable amount for us, but I am willing. They’re in town through 2/24.
Keep it spoiler free, please.
Top Comment: 1 - the music is out of this world
Finally saw Hadestown on Broadway! Thoughts on the cast and experience
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So after much mulling I did end up getting tickets and saw the Saturday 8pm performance on August 3rd. Thank you to those here who offered advice and encouragement.
If anyone remembers my mulling, I am a huge fan of the show but have not had the opportunity to go in person before. I was worried about seeing it with so many cast members going in and out (and not always being your typical Broadway performers). The show means so much to me and I was having one of those "don't meet your heroes" crises, where your hero is a 5 year running Broadway musical.
I'm really glad I went. It was a fantastic experience and one I will treasure forever. I encourage anyone unsure like I was to see it, because there is magic woven into this production, even where it's a little more rough around the edges.
My biggest worry was, of course, the new cast. I'm gonna go through each person here (not in any specific order), both in service of sharing what their performances are like and because I think the story of Hadestown is rather reliant on how they are played. I warn in advance that this will be nitpicky and detailed. If that's not your thing, that's ok! I'd love to hear others' perspectives as well.
- Maia Reficco as Eurydice was wonderful. I was the most nervous about her, but I have to second recent posts that say she has been done dirty in recordings (including the professional clip). Her voice has wonderful dynamics, soft and powerful, and she has excellent vocal clarity and a strong belt. I see why they cast her with that voice. Her acting didn't do it for me as much, but it was still good overall. She did baby-talk "you wanna take me home" which yuck, but that's no dealbreaker. Flowers was good, I do think that from clips I've seen she is getting better and better at the delivery. Overall, she was my favorite of the cast by far. I would recommend seeing her before they get someone else in.
- The Fates were utter perfection!!! If I were to drive the 10 hours again, it would be to see them. Their voices meld so well together and they hit every beat with so much power. Someone here said they had been more vicious of late, and oh boy was that true. Every moment they had on stage I was completely enthralled.
- Yola as Persephone was tons of fun, she has SUCH an amazing voice and vocal control! She did a wonderful riff at the end of We Raise Our Cups I was lucky enough to get on video. Her Persephone had two noticeable differences for me. First, she really did not seem to be intoxicated, either in the wild way of Amber or the depressed way of Ani. If anything she seemed more mellowed, longing for days of old. The second shift was how much emphasis there seemed to be on Hades as the focus for her character. I side with the read of Hadestown where Persephone and Hermes are putting the show on for us, and with past Persephones there was more awareness of this element, or at least more concern for the world of men and the workers. This is a specific example, but the way Amber looked at Eurydice at the end of Chant with so much concern and understanding is seared into my mind. Yola stays focused on her husband the whole tune, and for pretty much all of Act II. It doesn't have to be then, but I feel like Persephone needs some subtle moments to emphasize her role outside of Hades and that was missing here.
- Stephanie Mills has not, in fact, learned her lines. She has some gorgeous vocal moments, it must be said, but oh my god she stumbled during "They'll dress you up in your Sunday best and stuff your mouth with cotton" and I was cringing so hard. There were 2 or 3 other moments she messed up that were obvious to me, but I was seeing the show with someone only familiar with the concept album and she didn't notice, so it must not have been too bad. Stephanie plays Hermes much more like a concerned mother figure, being very tender towards both Orpheus and Eurydice. I must say I miss the otherworldly quality brought by other actors to this role. Hermes, to me, is the most clear link to what Hadestown does as a production. Hermes is the walls repeating the falling of our feet. Hermes has seen this play out so many times and is still here to sing the story again and again, and that was really missing for me. I loved Jon Jon but I felt a similar issue there. I don't think Hermes is unconcerned with Orpheus or Eurydice, but there is a connection to something bigger than just them that has been missing in the recent performances.
- Phillip Boykin is a pleasure to watch. I don't have much new to add from what others have said here. I think he has phenomenal stage presence, a gorgeous voice, and portrays the power of Hades very well. I am in agreement with others that he is playing too many moments for a laugh. I don't think they are all bad choices, but there are too many and it really takes away from the character. The worst one by far is "Oh, it's about me? OH GOODIE!". Super weird moment to try for a laugh, like that is not the moment to break audience tension when it's been building towards Epic III for so long. Epic III feels less solemn and important because of it.
- Jordan Fisher plays Orpheus and I regret that seeing it in person confirmed I am not in the majority that enjoys his take on the character. I do see why people enjoy his performance. He is an amazingly gifted and powerful vocalist. I think I would really like him if he did not belt so much (I know that is not a popular take, I'm sorry), because he has a beautiful falsetto and when he does the lalalas gently it's gorgeous. I didn't mind anything that much until Is it True? because to me it sounded like he was giving a motivational speech. He starts loud and powerful and ends loud and powerful. In my read, that song really cements the story about collective action. I like the way other Orpheuses (lol) have played it where they grow in strength when the workers start sharing their experiences as well. It situated Orpheus as one of many, and we as an audience watch the walls tumble down between everyone as they realize they are not alone and have power together. The song is best when it builds. The way Jordan does it, it feels like he is preaching truth to the workers, calling them to him rather than taking his place as one of them. It's not an inherently bad thing, but I do think it serves better to tell the story of Orpheus rather than the story of all of us.
My main takeaway is that what I love the most about Hadestown, the way it is a simple story capable of connection to such grander messages, can definitely be a detriment if there isn't cohesion. I'm not quite sure what it was, but it felt like the themes I loved were not as clear on the current Broadway stage as they were in the other forms I've witnessed it (not just grainy videos, but the concept album and principal recording).
I did still have an amazing time. The production was amazing. Moments like the stage coming apart and the lights swinging out in Wait for Me, "I conduct the electric city", and the complete darkness in Doubt Comes In were so magic and beautiful to behold. Can confirm people are still gasping when he turns around. The talent of the ensemble is equally magic, they bring so much life and heart to the show. The bartenders were also nice, even when I was confused why my one drink was $40! (I got to keep the cup).
Obviously a very biased retelling of my experience so would love to hear what others agree/disagree with!
Top Comment: I'm glad that someone else shares the opinion that Jordan Fisher isn't like the greatest person of all time to ever play Orpheus ever, it feels like people forget about Reeve sometimes
Was anyone else not impressed with Hadestown?
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Saw it on tour last weekend. I had heard some of the songs before and wasn't really impressed but figured that the show made such a splash, it must be good. I'm glad I saw it but didn't feel the need to rush home and buy the album like I usually do. The actors were great butiI just wasn't into the book or songs. The main song was just the word "la" over and over. Not since Roger in "Rent" has there been such a crappy song dude spent the entire play writing.
I didn't feel anything for characters and thought they rushed the love story, which made me not feel invested.
Thoughts?
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Did you miss all the lyrics in Epic III? He spent the whole show writing more than just "la la la"
If you had to choose, which would you watch: Hamilton or Hadestown?
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Hi everyone! I don't post to reddit much, hope this post falls in line with community rules etc.
I'm in a bit of a pickle. My very lovely parents have offered to buy me a ticket to any one Broadway show this coming December as a birthday/Christmas gift, and I'm absolutely torn between watching Hamilton and Hadestown.
I've wanted to watch Hamilton since 2016, listening to the soundtrack brings me back to some very nostalgic memories and I was just so obsessed in 2016-17. On the other hand, I really like the look and sound of Hadestown, and honestly as a Filipino who can only dream of being on Broadway I'd really really love to see Eva Noblezada on stage.
I'm kind of a Broadway noob (never bought a ticket before) so any advice is appreciated. Is there a way to know who will be performing on a certain day? And based on your personal experiences, would you have advice on which I should choose?
Thanks so much in advance! I'm really in a dilemma and really don't know much about Broadway so any advice is 100% appreciated :-)
Top Comment: Hadestown. Not because it's a better show, but because of the time and circumstances. Hadestown still has its original cast in-tact and is still in a bit of post-Tony glow. It'll be the more novel experience. Hamilton is a much bigger hit, but its peak is long past. You will have many more chances to see a replacement cast of Hamilton whether it's one of its three national tours, London, Sydney, or when it's still on Broadway in 10 years. I personally would be more interested in seeing a touring production of Hamilton than the Broadway production at this point. Hadestown is still in its "moment" and I'd suggest not missing it. Full disclosure: I think Hamilton is a better show. If someone has a gun to your head and says you only get to see one show before you die, then go Hamilton.