CAPTIVATING MUSICAL BREAKS RECORD AT WALTER KERR THEATER

Hadestown opened on April 17, 2019, and continues to be performed today. It is highly regarded and, as a result, has broken a record for the longest-running show at the Walter Kerr Theater.

The musical (containing 40 tracks) lasts approximately 2 hours and 30 minutes, including a 15-minute intermission. The musical showcases a merging of jazz and folk music to retell the Greek myth of Orpheus and Eurydice. The story places the myth in a more modern setting with the sets appearing to mix elements from the depression era, industrial factories and jazz clubs from New Orleans. The characters include Orpheus, Eurydice, Persephone, Hades, Hermes and the workers. Hermes is our narrator as the tale follows the Greek tragedy of Eurydice being lured to the underworld and Orpheus’s desperate attempts to save her. The musical also adds an interesting detail of paralleling the tale to Hades and Persephone’s own tale.  

A compelling factor of the show is its memorable soundtrack. The instrumentals blend jazz and folk music in a way that creates a unique sound and atmosphere. The songs utilize this as well as the vocalists themselves to convey emotion effectively. The performers also showcased their own talent through the clarity of their singing, without losing any of the inflections needed. The songs also tell the story well without losing lyricism or entertainment value.

Another intriguing aspect of the musical is the visual elements. The choreography is interesting and makes good use of the surrounding set. The decisions for the set and costumes are overall well thought through. The costumes contain symbolism and reflect each character as well as the circumstances they’re in. For example, Eurydice, a character who is poor and hardened by the world, has dirty clothing and wears darker colors that make her appear unapproachable. Orpheus, on the other hand, is wearing lighter colors, and although he has colorless, dirty clothing like everyone else, he has a red bandana. This bandana holds importance as it is a symbol of his optimism and fire that he holds despite everyone else being hopeless. The set, however, also includes interesting visuals such as the moving stage during the song “Wait For Me.” The visuals both immerse the audience while also not being overbearing as to not take away from the story occurring in the songs.

Moreover, this broadway show deserves a 10/10 rating. This is a result of its compelling elements all around, from the soundtrack to the visual elements, which all come together to make a charming show.