A couple of weeks ago my other half took me to Hadestown. Both of us are somewhat beyond our allotted three score years and ten so we were expecting to be deafened by the music (we’d read that we would be …). So, first of all, never believe what people say/write about a thing until you’ve experienced it for yourself (we weren’t once deafened) and, secondly (but this really should be first) whatever your age, go to Hadestown whenever it’s on near you.
The lyrics are beautiful, the music is liquidly gorgeous and, at the end – when Hermes (played wonderfully by Clive Rowe) sings about the reasons we still sing even when all hope has disappeared – I was in tears.
Hadestown is a profound musical about the way we are, what we hope for and fail to achieve, how we love and how it’s possible to find the courage to go on despite the odds against us. It’s based on the myths of Orpheus and Eurydice and Hades and Persephone.
The Fates are also very funny as they spin, sing and play on the other characters’ anxieties, doubts and difficulties.
Choose Hadestown when next you’re deciding what to see.