HADESTOWN to open this spring at the Walter Kerr- Page 9

[natashalost]

Posted: 2/12/19 at 5:27pm

A little disappointed we don't have any comet alumni in the ensemble... and it feels a little unfair that Jessie Shelton originated one of The Fates but is now a swing. I'm still happy she's in the cast though!

 

My guesses for understudies would be:

Orpheus: John Krause & Timothy Hughes (though I'm not sure if he is a good fit vocally for this part) and I could even see Ahmad Simmons covering this role too.

Eurydice: Kay Trinidad & either Yvette Gonzalez-Nacer or Khalia Wilcoxon

Persephone: Jewelle Blackman & Afra Hines 

Hades: Definitely T. Oliver Reid and maybe Timothy Hughes? Although he seems a bit too young. 

Hermes: T. Oliver Reid & Malcolm Armwood

The Fates: Jessie Shelton, Khalia Wilcoxon, & Afra Hines

 

[BwayinVan]

Posted: 2/16/19 at 1:09pm

I'm not sure if this is going to be my cup of tea. I didn't see great comet but I had no interest in it. I keep going back and forth on whether to add this to my trip or not. To those who did not enjoy comet, did you enjoy this and vice versa?

[Impossible2]

Posted: 2/16/19 at 5:08pm

BwayinVan said: "I'm not sure if this is going to be my cup of tea. I didn't see great comet but I had no interest in it. I keep going back and forth on whether to add this to my trip or not. To those who did not enjoy comet, did you enjoy this and vice versa?"

They cannot be compared. Hadestown still needs a lot of work to catch up to Comets level of quality production wise and I doubt it’s even possible it’ll ever be as good.

Its very different and the musics great. It’ll be interesting to see what changes are made for Broadway.

[Jmuep2]

Posted: 2/16/19 at 8:33pm

I liked GREAT COMET. I saw HADESTOWN in London (and never saw it off Broadway) For my money, HADESTOWN is far and away the superior musical in every possible respect. The story was small simple and achingly, painfully beautiful. I found the music to be more accessible and it felt like more of a traditional musical than an explosion of ideas and spectacle. Personally, I think HADESTOWN has more in common with THE BAND'S VISIT than GREAT COMET in that it's a very, very small intimate story that will attempt to lure you under its spell. Whether you're enchanted or not by it obviously is the question, but for me, I texted my friends after seeing it saying it might be the most romantic thing I've seen in a while and it smashed my heart into a thousand pieces -- but also I'm a heartless bastard -- so it made me grow one before it could destroy it. 

I can't wait to see it again. 

[Owen22]

Posted: 2/17/19 at 12:21pm

Impossible2 said: "dfrillsnedit said: "Reading up on the casting rumors here - though I'm really happy Paige and some of the other leads from the recent production are returning, I was really hoping for Chris Sullivan as Hermes. He has such a unique, rough, rock n' roll quality to his voice that is so hypnotic, it would have been great to see him make a return to both the character and to Broadway. This is Us is cool and all, but this would be have been incredible (even though I'm sure NBC is paying his bills for the forseeable future and takes priority over musical theater.)"

Andres De Shields was amazing in London, he was actually my favourite performer apart from Paige."

Nah, I saw Chris do it at nytw and then Andre at the National Theatre in London. Chris was the standout even though he's merely the narrator. Reeve Carney does not have the magnetism of the Workshop Orpheus but Eva is markedly better than the girl who played Eurydice in New York. The staging at New York Theater Workshop was amazing. The proscenium staging with a somewhat lesser cast makes for a somewhat let down of a return to New York.

[steven22]

Posted: 2/17/19 at 1:24pm

Owen22 said: "Impossible2 said: "dfrillsnedit said: "Reading up on the casting rumors here - though I'm really happy Paige and some of the other leads from the recent production are returning, I was really hoping for Chris Sullivan as Hermes. He has such a unique, rough, rock n' roll quality to his voice that is so hypnotic, it would have been great to see him make a return to both the character and to Broadway. This is Us is cool and all, but this would be have been incredible (even though I'm sure NBC is paying his bills for the forseeable future and takes priority over musical theater.)"

Andres De Shields was amazing in London, he was actually my favourite performer apart from Paige."

Nah, I saw Chris do it at nytw and then Andre at the National Theatre in London. Chris was the standout even though he's merely the narrator. Reeve Carney does not have the magnetism of the Workshop Orpheus but Eva is markedly better than the girl who played Eurydicein New York. The staging at New York Theater Workshop was amazing. The proscenium staging witha somewhat lesser cast makes for a somewhat let down of a return to New York."

Agreed!!

[binau]

Posted: 2/17/19 at 2:19pm

Maybe you ‘had to be there’ but I’m confused how the workshop staging could be better? The national theatre production for 2019 standards was pretty elaborate and detailed. There was a lot of different things going on there......elevators. Moving set pieces. Complexity. What happened in the workshop?

[Rainah]

Posted: 2/17/19 at 10:33pm

BwayinVan said: "I'm not sure if this is going to be my cup of tea. I didn't see great comet but I had no interest in it. I keep going back and forth on whether to add this to my trip or not. To those who did not enjoy comet, did you enjoy this and vice versa?"

I enjoyed both, but I do not think they are comparable.

If you found Comet loud, garish, or incomprehensible, I would say you might like this show. It's a lot more 'mainstream' in the sense that Comet tried to break many many norms/boundaries, and Hadestown is more conventional in many ways.

If you hated the direction or lighting design in Comet, skip Hadestown. Same designer and director and takes a lot of the same ideas. Or if you dislike when musicals do things 'ambitious' with staging.

It also helps a lot if you know the basic myth of Hades and Persephone, they do explain it but the exposition of their relationship can be a bit hard to follow. You don't need to know the myth of Orheus and Eurydice, that is played out in the show.

 

 

[dollyfan]

Posted: 2/22/19 at 9:49am

They had a preview concert of the show last night and the videos looked AMAZING! 

[dollyfan]

Posted: 2/22/19 at 10:03am

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TNsMpb9tQWA 

[Fan123]

Posted: 2/23/19 at 12:43am

As seen in the new 'All I've Ever Known' video from the preview concert, they've added some more lyrics for Orpheus in that song. Hopefully this indicates more work having been done on that character in general. (Although, personally I can only judge the character from the existing albums, clips that I've seen, and hearsay.)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=97N6iYGEspY

[jakebloke]

Posted: 2/23/19 at 5:24pm

I had absolutely no exposure/knowledge of this show (which is unusual for me) and so I was excited for something new.  I tried to listen to the recording today, and I just can’t get into it.  I’m not ruling out seeing it, but based on the music I’ve heard so far, I’m just feeling a bit blah about it.  Perhaps it’s just not my taste in music.  

[denali.fire]

Posted: 2/24/19 at 11:22am

<<edited by BWW staff>>

It took a bit of time but now I really enjoy the music.

Track 4 Hadestown was the first song that grew on me

Still working on it but for me I need to really get to know the music and the story.

Just sayin.

Updated On: 2/24/19 at 11:22 AM

[bwayphreak234]

Posted: 2/24/19 at 11:26am

While I am very much looking forward to seeing this at the end of March, I have to admit I am one of the few who just is not wowed by the score based on the recording. I love "Wait For Me", but no other songs really stand out to me. I am hoping that seeing the score performed within the context of the show will make a difference. I also love the leading cast.

[Lot666]

Posted: 2/25/19 at 12:15pm

bwayphreak234 said: "I am one of the few who just is not wowed by the score based on the recording. I love "Wait For Me", but no other songs really stand out to me. I am hoping that seeing the score performed within the context of the show will make a difference."

I've heard only two songs from the score and neither is remotely what I usually gravitate towards in a musical. Nonetheless, I bought a $200 center orchestra ticket for June. I'm really not sure why, but something makes me think that the actual show will be a very different experience. I'm going on nothing more than a hunch.

[Erzlump]

Posted: 2/25/19 at 4:55pm

Personally, while I enjoy the recording I feel like the sound of the show has grown a lot since then. Thus, one of the things I look forward most is getting a recording that far more reflects the show I saw in London than the first live recording can. 

On another point: I see why a lot of people have a problem with the character of Orpheus. The characters just fall in love, they could not do it any other way - it's a Greek tragedy, they basically did not have a hand in this. It's like Orpheus lyrics say in All I've Ever Known: "I knew you before we met and I don't even know you yet. All I know is you are someone I have always known". Just as little as they really have a hand in what happens to them. It all being fate, I understand why it irks people. It can come off as two-dimensional and artificial. But it's what old ancient Greek stories are like and I enjoy that they kinda left it intact that way. It's kinda the anthesis of Matilda's Naughty in that way. Strangely, I did not feel the same way about Persephone and Hades who seem to have much more of a natural arc than Orpheus has. Even Eurydice, although often restricted to a ballade heavy pool of songs, shows more growth due to the nature of the story. Maybe we are just to accept Orpheus as the catalyst of the story, rather than its main focus.  

Updated On: 2/25/19 at 04:55 PM

[getupngo]

Posted: 2/25/19 at 5:00pm

what is the set design like for this?

[Erzlump]

Posted: 2/25/19 at 5:10pm

The set is relatively minimalistic. At least it was in London. The band is seated on stage. The back of the stage features the small balcony connected via a staircase. This 'audience reaction' trailer features small glimpses as at the set. A lot was done using the drum revolve of the Olivier Theatre that can also be elevated or sunken into the stage. Small movements of the stage indicate if the characters are in Hadestown or not. 

[getupngo]

Posted: 2/25/19 at 8:12pm

Erzlump said: "The set is relatively minimalistic.At least it was in London. The band is seated on stage. The back of the stage features the small balcony connected via a staircase.This 'audience reaction' trailer features small glimpses as at the set.A lot was done using the drum revolve of the Olivier Theatre that can also be elevated or sunken into the stage. Small movements of the stage indicate if the characters are in Hadestown or not."

thank you so much for this! I saw that circle cutout in the floor and I instantly thought of the Hamilton turntable.

[LesWickedly]

Posted: 2/25/19 at 8:28pm

The set was crazy in London and I don’t know how they’re going to be able replicate it for Broadway. It looks simple, but it’s massive.

[Fan123]

Posted: 2/27/19 at 3:15am

Interesting take, Erzlump. Not having seen the show, I'm trying to imagine a few ways in which they could give Orpheus more of an arc, if it proves necessary. Some or all of this might already be in the show... perhaps he puts Eurydice on a pedestal at the start of the relationship, and has to deal with discovering her weaknesses. Maybe he has a simplistic view of heroes and villains, and only finds out partway through the story that Eurydice went with Hades of her own free will. Maybe there could be ambiguity with regard to his 'big moment' at the end, as to whether it's a tragic moment of doubt he instantly regrets or whether, perhaps just subconsciously, he's sort of... done at that point. Or something else altogether. For those who have seen one of the past productions, might you be able to shed light on what approach/es have previously been used?

[Erzlump]

Posted: 2/27/19 at 7:16pm

Fan123 said: For those who have seen one of the past productions, might you be able to shed light on what approach/eshavepreviously been used?"

We are going into spoiler territory here. So let's take it one at a time.

perhaps he puts Eurydice on a pedestal at the start of the relationship, and has to deal with discovering her weaknesses.

 

Click Here To Toggle Spoiler Content

Everything regarding Orph and Eury (excuse me for shortening this from here on out) happens rather quickly. They meet. Orph immediately tells her he will take her home. Eury isn't convinced that a singer can give her the security in life she craves - her being a poor girl. Orph sings his song, Eury is stunned by his talent - love and marriage. Problems occur when Orph struggles to finish the song, totally ignoring Eury, who begins to fall back into her old ways of looking out for herself, leading her to go to Hadestown. 

Maybe he has a simplistic view of heroes and villains, and only finds out partway through the story that Eurydice went with Hades of her own free will.

 

Click Here To Toggle Spoiler Content

This is very much in the show. Orph is absolutely stunned that Eurydice left him of her own free will. he sing's "If it's true?", wondering what that means for the two of them. The problem is he gets over it rather quickly, for some it will surely be too quickly - basically during this very song. There is no other way for Orph - he loves her, for better or worse. 

Maybe there could be ambiguity with regard to his 'big moment' at the end, as to whether it's a tragic moment of doubt he instantly regrets or whether, perhaps just subconsciously, he's sort of... done at that point. Or something else altogether.

 

Click Here To Toggle Spoiler Content

Okay, somewhat big spoiler here - thus a spoiler in a spoiler. The end basically goes down like this:

 

Click Here To Toggle Spoiler Content

Orph is walking. Eurydice is behind him. Both sing (in their minds) of what happy lives they will live once they are back above. While Eurydice continues in her optimism, the appearance of the fates (basically the incarnation of the little voice in your head going "but what if?" shows the audience how "doubt comes in" with Orph. He starts questioning how a simple guy like him is supposed to do this - why Eury should be following him - who is he to lead her? or anybody? They raised the stakes a bit by Orph acting as a figure of inspiration to all of Hades' workers who told him that if he can do, they are convinced that they will be able to do it too. All this pressure is getting to him. He can basically see the light at the end of the tunnel when doubt overcomes him and he turns around to see Eurydice stop right behind him (on the drum revolve). He says something of the like of "...You are there...", she says yes, turns around (towards the audiences, crying), falls to her knees and the drum revolves sinks into the stage with Eurydice on it - Eurydice has been taken back to Hadestown to stay there forever. Orph sinks to his knees.

The story is over. Hermes comes in, saying the same words he used in the opening number "It's an old song [...] It’s a sad tale, it’s a tragedy - But we sing it anyway"

There is little ambiguity. The good guy just lost by his own fault, overcome by his doubt ("I tell you where the real road lies: between your ears, behind your eyes. That is the path to paradise and likewise the road to ruin" - as Hermes warns Orpheus before he starts the journey home). After all he went through there was no happy end for him and there was never meant to be one. 

This leads to Orpheus being a relatively static character, while all the others around him have more of an arc (Eurydice realising that Hadestown isn't a nice place, that she made major mistakes, her realisation that Orpheus was what she wanted all along. Persephone and Hades rekindling their love, changing in the process - a process only started by Orpheus endless love for Eurydice.).

Updated On: 2/27/19 at 07:16 PM

[Robbie2]

Posted: 2/27/19 at 9:16pm

Updated On: 2/27/19 at 09:16 PM

[Robbie2]

Posted: 2/27/19 at 9:43pm

getupngo said: "what is the set design like for this?"



 

Updated On: 2/27/19 at 09:43 PM

[Robbie2]

Posted: 2/27/19 at 10:01pm

dollyfan said: "They had a preview concert of the show last night and the videos looked AMAZING!"