LONDON – If you want a folk and jazz musical full of fun choreographed dances and an interesting retell of an ancient Greek myth of Orpheus and Eurydice, then Hadestown is the perfect show for you.
Listen to the author read this review:
Hadestown is running at London’s Lyric Theatre through mid-February.
The stage itself, although not as creative and grand as other musicals, worked perfectly and had many unique features.
One was the stage’s mechanical design. It could become larger at certain times to show the difference between earth and the underground world. The stage could also spin around and different platforms could move higher or lower.
The ensemble worked perfectly with the props, making the transitions smooth and seamless. The stage mechanics also helped with clearing out props quickly and overall made the play a better experience.
I have mixed opinions on the costumes. Thought they were not up to the standard I see in many other musicals, I absolutely adored Persphone’s and Hades’ multiple outfit designs. They truly represented the characters’ personalities throughout the scenes.
The music was my favorite part. I loved the orchestra and the way they were introduced in the musical rather than hidden in the pit. It gave the musical a more unique style compared to others.
And the Fates’ singing throughout gave the musical a more whimsy feel such as in “Anywhere the wind blows.”
There were so many songs full of jazzy beats and eccentric tunes, such as “Road to Hell,” – one of my favorites – creating a lively atmosphere for the audience.
There were also more emotional songs such as “If It’s True,” where the audience is shown Orpheus’ sorrow from the belief that Eurydice was far gone and no longer could be saved, creating a sense of hopelessness.
The acting was phenomenal especially from Chris Jarman, who played Hades. He did an amazing job representing a complex character full of emotions of anger and love. I also found Hermes, played by Cedric Neal, very interesting.
Neal was the driving force of the musical through his amazing narration, which he does through song and his advice to Orpheus throughout.
I loved the eccentric personality of Persphone, played by Nicola Roberts. She represents her character as a blast of excitement and energy with many of her one liners giving the music a comedic atmosphere.
The Fates, played by Melanie Bright, Allie Daniel and Lauran Rae, also were truly interesting even if they did not have the largest role.
Desmonda Cathabel, who played Eurydice, also did an amazing job and had a powerful voice which really engaged the audience.
Although I believe Dylan Wood’s acting as Orpheus was flawless, I found that other characters in the musical had more interesting dynamics, making Orpheus’ character feel plain in comparison.
If you love Greek mythology and some jazzy beats, go see Hadestown. It is full of life, excitement and love from the actors, backstage workers and musicians.
Dezlene Akua Erza-Essien is a Reporter with Youth Journalism International.
