by Shana Black
Hadestown, the winner of eight Tony Awards® including Best New Musical and the 2020 Grammy® Award for Best Musical Theater Album, is playing at Playhouse Square from January 31 – February 19, 2023 as part of the 2022-23 KeyBank Broadway Series. In addition to the show’s eight Tony Awards® , it has been honored with four Drama Desk Awards, six Outer Critics Circle Awards, including Outstanding New Broadway Musical, and the Drama League Award for Outstanding Production of a Musical.
Don’t leave out early to beat the traffic. And yes it’s “for us.”
Upon writing that last sentence I realize that I fully captured all the words and thoughts I was having about Hadestown. Unlike most plays and musicals, I went in cold with this show. Meaning I didn’t do much research, hadn’t listened to the soundtrack and really had no idea what it was about. All I knew was that it has something to do with the greek myth of Hades and Perstepahie. I also know that I passed on seeing this show when I was in New York last year because I didn’t think it was…”for me.” But with this cast, I have to say I…was…so…wrong.
What’s it about?
Hadestown is based on the greek myth of Orpheus and Eurydice. It focuses on hopeful young couple who believe that love is all they need to get by but are tested by cold and possible famine. Intertwined is the story of Hades and his wife, Persephone.
Feels…familiar
For some reason, even though I knew that the show had won many awards, I just kept thinking it would be an old-school musical that most people think of when they say
I don’t like musicals. Again, I…was..so…wrong. Within the first few moments of the show, I caught myself thinking okay Black History Month. Then paused because wait, this isn’t a Black show, but it feels like it could be. The uptempo music had a New Orleans, down south bayou feel with many of the slower ballots being sung in a beautiful and soulful falsetto. Even the song the main character, Orpheus, sang was designed to melt the cold winter but slowly began to melt my questioning heart about this show.
Although totally new to many much of the staging and musical arrangements felt familiar. The melody that weaved through the show felt very much like how the musical Hamilton and Summer used a repetitive song lyrics throughout the show to reset the audience or bring us back to a plot like. There was a factory scene that felt like I was watching the Wiz except there was no Evilene. Even the song Nothing Changes, made me think about Michael Jackson singing You Can’t Win.
So many themes
In the opening moments of the show, the cast sings that “this is a love story”…but it’s so much more. There are themes of the female character grind culture, trusting yourself through doubt, and imposter syndrome. Even the relationship issues felt very contemporary. On the one hand, you had the young couple that believed that love and a song is all they need. On the other hand, you have the older couple that has lost the love they once had, and wonder if they can make it work after infidelity.
I did what I had to do, “Keep your head low”
Eurydice also battled with trying to not forget herself while working. She had to choose between missing out on love and life or having food and warmth The song when the chips are down perfectly captured that moment.
The cast
Check out the full cast list and bio
The cast makes…this…show. Nathan Lee Graham, who plays Hermes, was instantly recognizable. Brit West, who played Persephone, has been in the show Power and Hanna Whitley, from Twinsburg, is on her first national tour playing Eurydice. Matthew Patrick Quinn plays a very convincing yet very smooth Hades. Chibueze Ihuoma who plays Orpheus steals the show with his amazing vocals.
Who should I go with?
This is easily a date night show or great for Valentine’s day. But’s it also great for girl’s night or after brunch. It’s also a good multigenerational adult show. The only person I stray away from is that ex-boyfriend/girlfriend who might be inspired to try to make it work after watching some of the characters decide to try to make it work again.
Final Thoughts
I’m glad I went in cold with no info about the show. After doing a little research to write this story, listening to the songs on the soundtrack and watching earlier performances, I feel like I saw a different show. This cast adds a little spice, a little seasoning, a little flair which left me wanting to see it a couple of more times before it leaves Playhouse Square. I left the theater wanting to keep the energy and songs of the show with me as long as I can. It’s a definite yes for me.
HADESTOWN is part of the KeyBank Broadway Series, and is playing at the Connor Palace for three weeks, through Sunday, February 19th, 2023. Remaining tickets for the run can be purchased on playhousesquare.org or by calling 216-241-6000.