Finally saw this. What a lovely show. Stage-craft, writing, performances...it just all came together beautifully. For my money, the supporting cast (Gray, Page, and De Shields all SO strong) slightly overshadows the "leads" (Noblezada and Carney still very strong), but for any quibbles, it blows every other new musical this season out of the water. It's been such a lackluster year for new musicals on Broadway, so what a sincere pleasure this one was.
Hadestown just got nominated for 3 Drama League Awards: Outstanding production of a Broadway or off-broadway musical, andre de shields for distinguished performance, and amber grey for distinguished performance.
These two very sassy women were standing across from me and said "Hadestown. THE BEST show on Broadway." And some of the crew guys from The Prom standing behind them said "nuh uh!!!! Heck no" and the women replied "alright daaaaang my bad, second best show" lol it was so cute.
I hear what you are saying, but I disagree, I feel they show just enough in order not to ruin some of the best moments of the show, but still showing enough to give people an idea of what to expect. Much better to be surprised during “Wait For Me”!
Yeah I agree about being surprised but...THE FATES. I WANTED MORE FATES. Lol. I think there are a couple songs that would've made the trailer have more impact.
To close the loop on the umbrella, a friend of mine attended opening night of Hadestown and met the props guy at the after party. Here’s what the props guy said (not a joke):
- The props guy was aware of this umbrella thread but he had not read it.
- The green umbrella was being used but someone made a decision that they wanted it to feel more like a funeral so they went with black.
Warbucks2 said: "To close the loop on the umbrella, a friend of mine attended opening night of Hadestown and met the props guy at the after party. Here’s what the props guy said (not a joke): [...] - The green umbrella was being used but someone made a decision that they wanted it to feel more like a funeral so they went with black."
The example above sums up my biggest issue with this show: It takes absolutely NO chances. Everything I saw in this production was either predictable, or a "safe" choice (meaning it had been successfully done before). For me, this show is largely a cut and paste of elements from other shows I've seen before.
This revelation regarding umbrella choice follows suit. You want "funeral"? - Black is the only safe and obvious color choice to make.
John Adams said: "Warbucks2 said: "To close the loop on the umbrella, a friend of mine attended opening night of Hadestown and met the props guy at the after party. Here’s what the props guy said (not a joke): [...] - The green umbrella was being used but someone made a decision that they wanted it to feel more like a funeral so they went with black."
The example abovesums up my biggest issue with this show:It takes absolutely NO chances. Everything I saw in this production was either predictable, or a "safe" choice (meaning it had been successfully done before). For me, this show is largely a cut and paste of elements from other shows I've seen before.
This revelation regarding umbrella choice follows suit. You want "funeral"? - Black is the only safe and obvious color choice to make."
This is hilarious. But it reminds that maybe every musical, except the very first one, cuts and pastes from others? All of them have score, lyrics , choreography, scenic design, lightning design, actors, and are performed in a theatre.
I’m having a hard time recalling other shows that are like Hadestown. Not sure where the “cut and paste” comment comes from. And someone is complaining about a black umbrella not being original enough? I was too busy looking at everything on that stage to be caught up on the umbrella color, despite how much fun it was to talk about it during previews..
Johnm2 said: "I’m having a hard time recalling other shows that are like Hadestown. "
Huh...
- Plot, representational set/minimal props, and storytelling structure (including all-knowing narrator and decent into the underworld): The Fantastiks
- Underground factory: Metropolis
- Multidirectional turntable: Hamilton
- Title of show: Urinetown
- basso profundo, non-singing, "song": Ken Nordine Word Jazz (...and it would be pretty easy to slip in the phrase, 'In a world...' my children, my children)
But maybe those examples (and, for me, there are more) don't do it for 'ya, so let's go in another direction.
What about the show did you find to be examples where the storytelling, score, or production choices went creatively outside the box to tell this story?
Johnm2 said: "I’m having a hard time recalling other shows that are like Hadestown. Not sure where the “cut and paste” comment comes from. And someone is complaining about a black umbrella not being original enough? I was too busy looking at everything on that stage to be caught up on the umbrella color, despite how much fun it was to talk about it during previews.."
Same here. No need to spend time to figure out which 'similar' shows are 'cut and paste from'. Some ppl just like to pick on positively reviewed shows to show off their 'knowledge'. But their logic could hardly stand.
spicemonkey said: "Some ppl just like to pick on positively reviewed shows to show off their 'knowledge'."
- or -
Some people don't mind that the show is getting favorable reviews, and are perfectly fine with the number of people who enjoy the show, but happen to agree with the reviews that are not as favorable (which also exist).
Sure, "There is no new thing under the sun," but that having been said, as a whole, Hadestown did feel different from anything else I've ever seen. The vibe of the show was unique, and many of the moments of visual storytelling were genuinely surprising and breathtaking, as were some moments of emotional resonance. Put another way, it may not break much new ground, but it certainly builds on top of other innovations in its own way.
John Adams said: "This revelation regarding umbrella choice follows suit. You want "funeral"? - Black is the only safe and obvious color choice to make."
For fear that you’re being seriously and using the black unbrella (with rhine stones mind you!) as a reason they weren’t taking risks, what about the choice to have it feel like a funeral in the first place?
You might say a funeral feel for a moment in a story about Eurydice going to Hades is too obvious. Maybe a circus feel would have been a riskier choice. But a risky choice isn’t always the better choice. And only making risky choices through the entire show would be a mistake. Hamilton didn’t do that.
Hadestown is a mashup of ancient Greek stories told in a post-apocalyptic New Orleans jazz bar. That doesn’t sound like taking a risk?
Don't forget Thou Shalt Not and Jane Eyre. And my memory may be hazy, but didn't Dirty Rotten Scoundrels use it as well (similar to that of Thou Shalt Not)?
"What can you expect from a bunch of seitan worshippers?" - Reginald Tresilian
Sorry to all broadway directors, no one is allowed to use a turntable anymore cause hamilton did it!! No matter how amazing it looks it's banned! But seriously of all the shows to have a lack of originality beef about you choose hadestown?
Rogerdellibovi said: "Sorry to all broadway directors, no one is allowed to use a turntable anymore cause hamilton did it!! No matter how amazing it looks it's banned! But seriously of all the shows to have a lack of originality beef about you choose hadestown?"