Sing it Again and Again in HADESTOWN

A tragic folk-opera of mythological proportions.

In 2016, Hadestown opened off-Broadway, the artistic effort developed by Anaïs Mitchell over many years, depicting one of the greatest romances in ancient Greek mythology.

Since then, the musical has received 14 Tony nominations and is beloved by fans all around the world.

The classic story of Orpheus (Dónal Finn) and Eurydice’s (Grace Hodgett Young) ill-fated love is set in a world that evokes America during the Great Depression.

Exchanging lyre for a guitar, the land of the dead for an industrial foundry, and Greek chorus for a brass brand, the musical has a distinct identity which sets it apart from pretty much anything else on the West End.

As a sung-through musical, Hadestown is not short of standout songs. The famous ‘Wait for Me’ is the emotional anthem of longing and hope, performed during the tense climax of the musical.

‘Way Down Hadestown’ is emblematic of the themes and aesthetics of the musical, with its folksy blues melodies and rich lyricism fleshing out the worldbuilding of the musical.

The dance pieces that stood out were all of Persephone’s (Gloria Onitiri) wild and free-spirited solos, the short but impressionable interjections from the three Fates with their flowing costumes, and the intricate group choreography of the workers of the underworld.

A brilliant creative choice is that all the actors in the West End production of Hadestown sang with their own native accents. This made for a mythic and charismatic Hermes (Melanie La Barrie), who narrated the proceedings with a distinct Caribbean accent. Orpheus’s Irish accent gave the earnest protagonist a sweet and charming quality that contrasted with Hades’s (Zachary James) booming and authoritative American accent. When listening to the original.

Broadway cast recording with all-American accents, it is easy to miss the distinct personality of the West End production.

The musical resides in the Lyric Theatre, the oldest theatre in Shaftesbury Avenue.

In 2021, the theatre was refurbished with new seats, better heating and ventilation, and a new gold-leaf wallpaper from Versace for a better experience for all.

Written by Mika Sudjarwo