gahhh more obsessive hadestown thoughts for beloved @goldentshirt
first: in the theater there was an audible collective gasp when he turned. and it wasn’t just my personal experience; i’ve watched interviews where the creators and performers say there are always at least a few gasps. it’s so funny because right at the beginning hermes tells us it’s a tragedy, but the majority of the audience has hope that... maybe this time it will turn out better 😉 (which on a meta level is thanks to orpheus’ gift.)
there is so much mirroring/duality and circular nuance from the micro level of individual lyrics and rhymes to the macro of the literal stage and it’s just staggering. there is so much intention behind everything, the musical styles, the costumes, the way actors carry themselves in certain roles and adapting their mannerisms to each different setting, the vocals and how theyre supported by instruments, the set, the blocking, the lighting, the imagery... ahhh!! every time i listen i catch something new.
another detail i wanted to share that’s one of my favorite choices: andre moves like molasses. hermes is a messenger, he can literally fly, he even looks like a flash or a spark in his silvery suit with actual feathers on his heels, but andre always moves super slowly, from his walk to his gestures. and it is hypnotizing and projects such power without him having to say a word.
i’ve seen clips from the london stagings and orpheus was originally this kinda rebel without a cause beat poet bad boy type, but they changed that to a softer more shy and gentle soul for broadway. instead of a jean jacket and all the swagger, orpheus becomes a kinda gangly geek who we meet bussing tables in an apron and suspenders. but he also never comes off as the nerd character who feels he is owed a woman simply because he exists. he’s respectful and selfless, which are some of the attributes i think persephone loves most about him. and after finding persephone, reeve gradually adjusts orpheus’s presence to one that’s more confident and sturdy. he’s able to stand his ground, even against the king of the underworld, because of her.
i could go on and on and on, but that’s it for now. i’ll probably dump another bunch of musings (so to speak) over the course of the foreseeable future because i finally have someone else to rave to. i’m gonna go look for some video recordings haha
