Hadestown is a fresh and different musical, with a great story and music. It’s a jazz-folk musical that reimagines the ancient Greek myth of Orpheus and Eurydice within a depression-era, post-apocalyptic setting. Here’s my Hadestown theatre review.
Overview and plot synopsis of Hadestown the Musical
Hadestown retells the Greek myth of Orpheus and Eurydice within a Depression‑era, industrial underworld. My Hadestown theatre review will first give a quick overview and plot synopsis of the show, and then I’ll talk about what I liked and what I wasn’t so sure about.
Hadestown has five main characters: Hermes is the ‘Master of Ceremonies’. Hades runs the underworld, with his wife Persephone. And Eurdice and Orpheus are the two young lovers.
Eurydice is a young girl who is struggling to survive in a harsh and famine‑stricken world. She meets Orpheus, a musician working on a song he believes can restore balance to nature. They form a relationship and fall in love.
However, Orpheus becomes increasingly absorbed in his work, leaving Eurydice vulnerable. When Hades, ruler of the underworld, offers her security and stability in Hadestown, she accepts and signs a binding contract.
In the underworld – Hadestown
In Hadestown, Eurydice discovers that the promised safety comes at the cost of her freedom. The workers are trapped in endless labour, and she becomes one of them. Orpheus, realizing she is gone, travels to the underworld to retrieve her. Persephone, Hades’ wife, whose seasonal presence affects the world above, encourages Orpheus’ attempt. Orpheus confronts Hades through music, and his song softens Hades’ resolve, prompting him to offer a deal: Eurydice may leave with Orpheus, but he must walk ahead without looking back until both have reached the surface.
Orpheus accepts the condition, and the couple begins their ascent. As they travel, doubt grows in Orpheus, who cannot hear Eurydice behind him. Near the exit, he turns to confirm she is there, breaking the agreement. Eurydice is pulled back into Hadestown permanently, and Orpheus is left alone.
What I liked about Hadestown the Musical
I really enjoyed Hadestown the musical. It felt fresh and different – a really original way of re-telling a story from Greek mythology, with some great music and performances.
The songs and dances
The highlight of Hadestown is undoubtedly the songs and performances of the cast. There’s not a lot of set or staging in the show – there’s some, but it’s not the highlight of the show. The musical is entirely sung, so it’s the songs and performances that really carry the show.
I really liked the songs. There are some great jazz songs, with the band on stage so it feels like they’re part of the performance. There are some really nice slower, romantic songs as well – including my favourite song from the show, ‘All I’ve ever Known’. And also some more powerful songs, with the whole cast joining in, with catchy and memorable tunes. And the super-deep voice of Hades was great.
There are fun songs as well, with some good dances. There’s some good break-dance style performances with the whole cast involved. I really remember on dance, with Hermes dancing around twirling with sparkly black umbrella.
The original story
My favourite thing about Hadestown was how original it feels. It’s based on Greek mythology – a story that has been around for thousands of years. But it’s re-told in such a unique and original way. Who thought of telling Greek mythology stories in the setting and culture of a Black, New Orleans style jazz bar. It’s a really original way of telling the story, combined with some really great songs that I know I’ll want to listen to a lot.
The audience really got invested in the story. There was a huge gasp from the audience when Orpheus turned around right at the end to see Eurydice, causing her to get taken back into the underworld. It was a really powerful moment in the story.
Performances of the main characters, the set, and the costumes
The performances of all of the main characters were great. Hermes was a great narrator, with the audiences’ eye really drawn to him whenever he was on stage.
Hades was great as well. Hades was dressed like The Matrix, with a long dark leather coat and black sunglasses. His voice was super deep at times in the songs. It was a great look and performance. I’d recently seen the musical Hercules in London, which also features a version of Hades – a very camp version, like a pantomime villain. The version of Hades in Hadestown was completely different, and it was quite an amusing comparison.
Persephone had a really nice green costume when she was dressed as ‘springtime’. Most of the set and costumes were quite dark, so the bright green stood out nicely on the stage. The dark colours also made the imagery of the red rose stand out really well.
Orpheus and Eurydice were great as well. They had some lovely romantic songs. Orpheus’s singing voice was really high at times – an amazing contrast to the deep tones of Hades. There was a really nice, powerful moment in the second half when Hades asks Orpheus to sing his song. The song builds, to a point where everyone is joining in, and Orpheus is standing on the raised centre of the stage, with the others rotating around him.
What I wasn’t so sure about
I really enjoyed Hadestown. I enjoyed the story and the music. But for me, the staging and the set felt a bit underwhelming.
The staging and set
The main thing for me that I wasn’t so sure about was the staging and the set – or rather, the lack of it. What they had did work, and I can see that it was a conscious design choice to have a fairly minimalistic stage, with lots of dark colours. But I still couldn’t help feeling that I wanted just a bit more.
There weren’t many impressive props or stage changes at all. There were some good moments with the stage rotating, or the centre going up and down with people on. This worked especially well with showing people going down to Hades’ underworld. But apart from the stage rotating and the middle section going up and down, there wasn’t much else.
The band and a lot of the characters were on stage a lot of the time, which gave the feeling of it being set in a New Orleans jazz bar. But there wasn’t much change between the scenes set on the surface, and the scenes in Hades’ underworld. There were some red lights that sort of symbolised being in the underworld, and some costume changes to become factory workers. But that was it.
I feel like a show that’s set in Hades Underworld has so much potential to have impressive staging for the underworld. But I was a bit underwhelmed with the staging, set and props in the show. I felt like they could have done so much more to really show the life in the underworld.
Would I recommend going to see Hadestown
I enjoyed Hadestown the musical. It was a really fresh, original way of telling a story from Greek Mythology. And the music and performances were great. Even though I was a bit underwhelmed with the staging of the underworld, my Hadestown theatre review is still really positive. I’d definitely recommend going to see this musical.
Hope you enjoyed my Hadestown the Musical theatre review! Check out my other theatre reviews for more shows in the West End, across the UK and the world.
