Hadestown – review:

If, like me, you keep seeing posters all over London about the Broadway hit “Hadestown,” take it as a sign to book yourself a ticket.

Now, I’m still trying to fully grasp the ending of “Hadestown” since the musical is mostly sung with minimal dialogue. From what I gather, “Hadestown” retells the ancient Greek myth of Orpheus and Eurydice with a modern-day twist. Set in a world reminiscent of a post-apocalyptic America during a deep depression, the story follows the musician Orpheus on his journey to the underworld to rescue his girlfriend Eurydice from the grasp of Hades, the ruler of the dead.

“Hadestown” isn’t your typical love story. While it does have its romantic moments, it delves deeply into the harsh realities of relationships, exploring struggle, temptation, survival, hope, and tragedy.

By the end of the play, I couldn’t get enough. The set, designed by Rachel Hauck, though unchanged since the first act, now had personality and perfectly suited the underworld setting. The performances became more vibrant, and I became fully immersed in the characters’ journeys. The storyline began to make much more sense, and I was gripped by the last two scenes. “Hadestown” truly is a slow burner, it reminds me of a Netflix series – it may not grip you immediately, but by the end, you’ll be fully invested.

“It’s so refreshing to see black and brown female leads in a West End musical rightfully take up their crowns”.

Surprisingly, one thing I loved was the soundtrack (by Anais Mitchell). Initially, I found some of the songs too predictable and not catchy, but by the second half, I couldn’t wait to hear Orpheus (Donal Finn) hit those high notes in his lullaby. Donal really gives Mariah Carey a run for her money with those notes! I also loved every song Persephone (Gloria Onitiri) sang. Gloria has a seriously great voice and gives so much energy to her performances. The next day, I caught myself humming some of the songs from the show, so I had no choice but to download the soundtrack. Now I understand why it won a Grammy.

I was impressed by the performances of every single cast member. From their acting to their dancing, each person delivered an outstanding performance and truly captivated the audience. They exuded raw emotion, passion, grit, and fierceness, and I felt every smile, tear, and emotion portrayed on stage. I was fully immersed in the characters’ journeys and found myself believing in them wholeheartedly. I loved how Hermes (Melanie La Barrie) narrated the piece with her Caribbean accent and incredible voice.

Both Orpheus (Donal Finn) and Eurydice (Grace Hodgett Young) portrayed the perfect lovers. Their chemistry was beautiful, matched only by the beauty of their voices.

Hades (Zachary James) portrayed the perfect villain. He commanded the stage with great presence and embodied the mean and powerful demeanour we’d expect from Hades.

His wife Persephone (Gloria Onitiri) was my favourite. She was full of life, had a fantastic voice, and captivated the entire audience with her performances. The Fates (Bella Brown, Madeline Charlemagne, and Allie Daniel) formed the perfect trio. While each had their own distinct style, their harmonious blend onstage made for an enjoyable performance.

One thing that stood out to me was how diverse the cast was. It’s so refreshing to see black and brown female leads in a West End musical rightfully take up their crowns. I love that “Hadestown” chose talent above all else and proves that musicals can be diverse. Seeing people on stage who look like me is reason enough for me to recommend the show, but the fact that the cast is fantastic further solidifies my recommendation.

Overall, I seriously enjoyed “Hadestown”. While I wasn’t feeling it in the first half, it completely won me over by the second half. It’s entertaining, thought-provoking, and fierce.

Need to know: “Hadestown” is booking until December 2024. Find out more.