Hadestown: Spring Comes Again
May 31, 2023
Pictured above is Eurydice entering Hadestown for the very first time.
Straight off the streets of Broadway, the Hadestown national tour has come at an opportune time – when the world is still recovering from the pandemic, which makes it even more relatable. The show itself retells the Greek myth of Orpheus and Eurydice; it’s a tale as old as time: boy and girl fall in love, tragedy strikes, they try to overcome it and yet their flame burns out. But the musical is anything but old and reused, it is a stunning illustration of when love just isn’t enough.
Anaïs Michell, the creator of show, turned it from a classic Greek tragedy into a beautiful and melancholy musical that can warm your heart, make sociopolitical statements, and yet still maintain its Greek origins.
As someone who has been following the show since its debut and who had watched a certain “slime tutorial” on YouTube, I had expected the tour to not live up to the star-studded original Broadway cast (OBC). However, after seeing it live at the Baltimore Hippodrome, I can confirm that it is just as breathtaking on tour!
When I say I wasn’t expecting it to be as good, I don’t intend to demean the talent and hard work of actors who do tours – I mean, I just wasn’t expecting it to have the same impact on me as did the OBC. But I can admit that I was wrong, and the show did in fact reignite my love of theatre.
Nathan Lee Graham as Hermes was astonishing! He perfectly captured the spirt of the Greek god and played a great “don’t kill the messenger” type of character. His comedic timing nicely balances out the darker moments of the show and his stage presence is absolutely electric! Hermes may be an intense storyteller, but the role was meant for Nathan Lee Graham.
Orpheus, played by J. Antonio Rodriguez, touched the hearts of the audience. His delicate voice stole the show, and he played an amazing lover boy! His performance truly was swoon worthy. Hannah Whitley as Eurydice is everything we could possibly ask for. She embodied her character flawlessly: incredible voice, impeccable rhythmic timing in her dances, and inspiring overall presence.
Lana Gordon, who played Persephone, along with Matthew Patrick Quinn who played Hades, did a phenomenal job driving home the main point of the story: the destination isn’t the most important part but rather the journey you go on to get there. All in all, the cast was an absolute powerhouse.
Pictured above is Hades interacting with the workers of Hadestown from his balcony.
But also, the set was mind-blowingly intricate and told its own story. Designed by Rachel Hauck, the set includes wrought iron balustrades and French quarter balconies which become the center for all the action in the show. The tour set also has a train car door that welcomes the audience (and the characters) into the hellmouth of Hadestown.
The cast is impeccably impressive, and the set is beautiful. But above all else, the story of love, sacrifice, power, and loss hits home. It also touches on the complicated dynamics of power, absence, decisions, and doubt.
