Isherwood for Broadway News Review: An exhilarating ‘Hadestown’ revitalizes a classic love story https://broadway.news/2019/04/17/review-an-exhilarating-hadestown-revitalizes-a-classic-love-story/
"..Not so with the young lovers. The program tells us of Orpheus's immortal lineage and boundless charm. Carney delivers on the first quality with his savant performance, depicting a man singularly focused on his song. But there's nothing charming about that, especially in Carney's spacey, twitchy portrayal. It's easier to feel something for Noblezada's sympathetic Eurydice, even if it's mostly pity."
"Still, if you're looking for a gorgeous, formally challenging, and finely performed show wrapped in the comforting blanket of the classics, you can do no better than Hadestown, a musical fated to be the snob hit of this Broadway season."
The Wrap is positive while acknowledging the consensus: that the leads are not as interesting as the supporting characters and that the story is a bit thin and over relies on narration:
New York Post is decidedly mixed to negative although that trailer at the top of the page makes me want to see this posthaste. I actually teared up watching it.
Samanthacq said: "Really wonder why Ben Brantley didn’t review it, especially since he was there. Maybe he didn’t enjoy it?"
I'm no expert but I would just assume that as 'chief" theater critics at NYT, they both see everything, literally. I also know that the last few reviews I've read in the NYT - today's Burn This, and last week Oklahoma, and shortly before that King Lear - were by Brantley. So maybe it's as simple as it's Jesse's turn?!
“And because Hades (Patrick Page) now has a thing for Eurydice, it’s the jealous Persephone who convinces him to let Orpheus (Reeve Carney) take her back.”-NYT review
I don’t think this is true?? I mean I guess you could interpret Persephone as jealous but isn’t it more because she admires Orpheus and wants them to be together and alive?
Samanthacq said: "Really wonder why Ben Brantley didn’t review it, especially since he was there. Maybe he didn’t enjoy it?"
He was probably just there to see the show. He needs to see everything to do his Awards coverage for the NYT (predictions, conversations, etc). And whether he liked it or not wouldn't impact who reviews it –– that would be predetermined (a decision between Ben, Jesse, and their editor Scott Heller).