Isn't this show so wonderful? I saw it at the beginning of the month and have also been trying to get everyone I know to see it.
I'd heard about the show in the spring when it was announced; I didn't think I was going to get to see it. I am so glad that I did. ladymondegreen made it possible by providing the ticket and a place to stay and I took the time for everything else and I regret nothing.
the shaking of the seats as Hermes stomps in time with the train beat
Yes! I loved the use of the theater itself as percussion as well as the actors' bodies. It's joyfully stompy for Hermes' "Road to Hell" and "Way Down Hadestown," grimmer and more industrial for Hades' "Chant," which only makes sense: a million hands that were not his own and a million feet that fell in line and stepped in time with Hades' step. Breath gone to steam, bones to pistons, souls to stones in the wall. Think of them as my embrace of you.
Persephone handing out mugs to the audience for a toast
I can't remember if it was during "Livin' It Up on Top" or "Our Lady of the Underground," but at one point she offered her flask to a man who demurred politely with his hands held up; she clowned the gesture back at him with exaggerated offense, playing to the back rows—seriously, dude?—and then slugged back a drink for two. Everyone in this show could turn on a nickel from the comic to the tragic to the terrifying, except for Orpheus, which I suspect of being part of the point.
I haven't seen any video available, but here's a still image of one of the microphones, if that helps your identification.
Thank you! That's a very good shot of Persephone, too. [edit] As of this afternoon I've been listening to this live recording of "Any Way the Wind Blows."
I hadn't caught the jazz funeral echoes in "Way Down Hadestown", but wow, yes, of course it is.
To be fair, I was just reading about New Orleans jazz funerals last week.
Also, ever since I saw it, I haven't been able to refrain from singing 'Why We Build the Wall' every time Trump comes on TV.
Oh, God, yes ha ha augh. I still prefer Hades to Trump. At least the lord of the dead does not discriminate. They didn't call him Πολυδέγμων—Receiver of Many—for nothing.
I'm very glad you enjoyed the review! I cross my fingers that you can get to the show again before it closes.
no subject
I'd heard about the show in the spring when it was announced; I didn't think I was going to get to see it. I am so glad that I did.
the shaking of the seats as Hermes stomps in time with the train beat
Yes! I loved the use of the theater itself as percussion as well as the actors' bodies. It's joyfully stompy for Hermes' "Road to Hell" and "Way Down Hadestown," grimmer and more industrial for Hades' "Chant," which only makes sense: a million hands that were not his own and a million feet that fell in line and stepped in time with Hades' step. Breath gone to steam, bones to pistons, souls to stones in the wall. Think of them as my embrace of you.
Persephone handing out mugs to the audience for a toast
I can't remember if it was during "Livin' It Up on Top" or "Our Lady of the Underground," but at one point she offered her flask to a man who demurred politely with his hands held up; she clowned the gesture back at him with exaggerated offense, playing to the back rows—seriously, dude?—and then slugged back a drink for two. Everyone in this show could turn on a nickel from the comic to the tragic to the terrifying, except for Orpheus, which I suspect of being part of the point.
I haven't seen any video available, but here's a still image of one of the microphones, if that helps your identification.
Thank you! That's a very good shot of Persephone, too. [edit] As of this afternoon I've been listening to this live recording of "Any Way the Wind Blows."
I hadn't caught the jazz funeral echoes in "Way Down Hadestown", but wow, yes, of course it is.
To be fair, I was just reading about New Orleans jazz funerals last week.
Also, ever since I saw it, I haven't been able to refrain from singing 'Why We Build the Wall' every time Trump comes on TV.
Oh, God, yes ha ha augh. I still prefer Hades to Trump. At least the lord of the dead does not discriminate. They didn't call him Πολυδέγμων—Receiver of Many—for nothing.
I'm very glad you enjoyed the review! I cross my fingers that you can get to the show again before it closes.