A New Broadway Success: “Hadestown”

Down come the lights as the curtain opens to reveal one of the most famous stages in the world: The Broadway stage. Being on Broadway is one of the greatest accomplishments of any actor, singer, or dancer’s career and it is not hard to see why. Only the best of the best make it to this stage, making it very difficult to get there. However, if you do, you go down in history as a Broadway star! One of the reasons this stage has been able to keep up its reputation for so long is because new shows come out all the time. One of the most recent new Broadway shows made its debut on stage on April 17^th, 2019. The show is entitled “Hadestown” and has already made a great impression on its first audiences.

Christine Strong, a senior at Lafayette High School as well as a dedicated member of the Lafayette Theatre Program, is going to see “Hadestown” in June and she is very excited. She says that she is a big fan of Greek mythology and that this show has a really good message. Christine is most excited for all of the visual effects and amazing cast and choreography. If this show continues to be a success, it has the potential to be known all around the world as one of the most famous Broadway shows!

With many musical numbers and a fascinating plot, the show takes you on a journey back in time. Although the myth is about ancient Greece, the setting of the musical is in a post-apocalyptic world during the Great Depression. Act I of the show opens with Hermes, the narrator introducing all the characters in the show. We then meet the main characters, Orpheus and Eurydice who both live in poverty. Orpheus, who is a musician, tries to persuade Eurydice to marry him even though she is skeptical, due to both of their situations. However, Orpheus tells of a song he is writing that will being spring back to their home and Eurydice begins to fall in love with Orpheus. Then, we are introduced to Persephone and learn of her situation with Hades, the ruler of the underworld. Persephone, Eurydice, and Orpheus become friends but, when winter comes, Persephone is taken by train back to Hadestown, which is Hades’ underground factory.  As time passes, both couples undergo hardships and Hades is fed up with Persephone and her defiance. Meanwhile, Eurydice thinks that Orpheus should get a job instead of working on his music but he isn’t willing to quit. Hades then persuades Eurydice to come to Hadestown with him and she obliges. When Orpheus learns of this, he attempts to make his way to the underworld to save her, ending the first act of the show.

Eurydice begins the second act regretting her decision to come with Hades because she learns that since she signed his contract, she can never leave unless Hades allows it. Orpheus learns of this and confronts Hades. Persephone, overhearing Orpheus’ struggle, begs Hades to let Eurydice go. Hades then offers Orpheus a chance to sing for him and he succumbs the music, and is reminded of his love for Persephone. Finally, Hades allows the couple to leave but only if Orpheus can lead them all the way out without looking behind him to see if Eurydice is following. Orpheus makes it to the very end of the journey until he becomes nervous and looks behind to see that Eurydice was following him the whole time. He then realizes that he has condemned her to life in Hadestown forever. Hermes, who is now very upset, begins the story again, showing that no matter how many times they sing it, people will always hope for a better, happier ending. Act II closes with Persephone toasting to Orpheus.