Once upon a time there was a railroad line. Don't ask where, brother, don't ask when. It was a road to Hell - No! It was hard times. It was a world of gods and men. It's an old song. It's an old tale from way back when. It's an old song. And we're gonna sing it again. It's a sad song. It's a sad tale, it's a tragedy. It's a sad song. But we sing it anyway. It's a love song. It's a tale of a love that never dies. It's a love song. About someone who tries.
So I'm a lover of anything related to Greek mythology. I'm a story teller at heart and the old mythologies of gods and men and heroes and villains are stories that will never grow old for me. I'm also a lover of musicals. There's something about the magic of stage performance with story telling set to music and rhythm that resonates with me. Now I've read my share of mythologies and now that I've been living here in NYC for the past several months, I've put myself in more debt to go see some Broadway musicals (of course I've also listened to countless soundtracks from shows no longer running too).
The one that stands out the most to me out of all that I've listened to? More so than some of my classic favorites like Les Mis and more so than the new hit like Hamilton? (Despite the fact that I still love these shows and all the rest?)
Hadestown, by Anaïs Mitchell. (The fourth woman in history to write the story, music, and lyrics to a Broadway musical.)
One of the best known Greek myths is the one of Hades and Persephone. Only slightly less well known is that of Orpheus and Eurydice. Two great loves from two different worlds, and yet they come together for a moment that will shatter all of their lives forever. And Anaïs Mitchell has captured these stories and woven them together, set to beautiful music that's presented onstage in a captivating and heartbreaking musical that will speak of themes that reach across the ages into reality today.
It begins with Hades and Persephone...
Suddenly when he saw her there. Persephone in her mother's garden, sun on her shoulders, wind in her hair. The smell of flowers she held in her hand and the pollen that fell from her fingertips. And suddenly Hades was only a man with the taste of nectar upon his lips, singing...
Everyone knows the story of Hades and Persephone. Different versions tell it different ways, but in all of them, Hades fell in love with Persephone and brought her to the underworld, whereupon eating several pomegranate seeds, she must remain there for half of the year. This is where we get the seasons, for when Persephone is above ground we have springtime and summer. But when she is below with Hades there is autumn and winter. Other aspects of the story aside, at the heart of it is the love story between Hades and Persephone. A love story that is dying when Hadestown begins its tale.
And then come Orpheus and Eurydice...
There was a railroad line on the road to Hell. There was a young man down on a bended knee. And brother, thus begins the tale. Of Orpheus and Eurydice. See Orpheus was a poor boy. But he had a gift to give: He could make you see how the world could be, in spite of the way it is.
Not everyone knows the story of Orpheus and Eurydice, and I've never particularly enjoyed it before myself. Until I saw Hadestown, and then I changed my mind. I've never liked tragedies because I'm a sucker for a happy ending, and Orpheus and Eurydice is a heartbreaking tragedy that I feel could have been entirely avoided, which is why I never liked it before. But Anaïs Mitchell spins her tale so well that even though it breaks my heart every time to hear it, I'll gladly listen to it time and time again.
Orpheus was a gifted musician and the son of a Muse (Calliope, the Muse of epic tales - how appropriate). He falls in love with a girl called Eurydice and they are happily married. Until one day Eurydice dies and is sent to the underworld. In despair, Orpheus goes to the underworld in the hopes of retrieving his wife. Along the way, he sings of his love and his despair and manages to persuade Hades and Persephone to let him take Eurydice back with him to the world of the living - a feat no mortal had ever done before. Moved by his music, Hades allows Orpheus to do so, under one condition. Orpheus must walk his way out of the underworld, alone, and Eurydice will follow. But Orpheus must not turn and look behind to her until he has reached the world of the living, if he does, Eurydice will be brought back down to the underworld. And so, Hades lets them go.
But remember, it's a tragedy. At the light of dawn, just at the gates of the underworld, Orpheus turns to looks behind, doubtful that Eurydice had followed because he could not hear or see her. Of course, she is there but she is dragged back down to the underworld and Orpheus is left with his grief and despair.
The beauty of this particular telling, and the reason why I've grown to like this story after disliking it for so many years, is that the story will continue to be told. Hadestown is told as a circular story, ending where they started at the beginning. It follows a theme of second chances and spring renewals. As the story traces the two parallel love stories of Hades/Persephone and Orpheus/Eurydice, we get to see how each one blossoms, grows, decays, and then begins again. The two stories weave together, in parallel and in contrast to each other (but I won't ruin for you exactly how they overlap). Remember: it's a love song, about someone who tries.
I don't know where this road will end, but I'll walk with you into the wind. I can't promise you fair sky above, can't promise you kind road below. But I'll walk with you my love, any way the wind blows. Do you let me walk with you? I do, I do, I do. And keep on walking, come what will? I will, I will, we will.
I'm a romantic, so I'm always caught up in the story of the lovers. But there is another important aspect of the show that makes it relevant to today's world, especially now. Despite the fact that Anaïs Mitchell wrote this back in 2010, there is one song that will likely resonate with many Americans today. It is sung between Hades and the workers of Hadestown, all of whom he has led with promises of shelter and a way out of the hardships of the world. Together, they are building a wall.
Why do we build a wall? My children, my children. Why do we build a wall?
Because we have and they have not, because they want what we have got. The enemy is poverty and the wall keeps out the enemy and we build a wall to keep us free. That's why we build a wall, we build a wall to keep us free.
What do we have that they should want? We have a wall to work upon. We have work and they have none. And our work is never done. My children, my children! And the war is never won.
Enough said...
So I went and saw Hadestown during their Broadway preview in early April, because how could I pass up the opportunity to mix some of my favorite things together? Greek mythology + Broadway musical = best show ever! And I am so glad that I did. Because this show is incredible.
For me - and the reason why I'm writing about the experience here - the best part of the show was the writing. It's narrated by Hermes and the way that Anaïs Mitchell is able to tell the two intertwining love stories of Hades/Persephone and Orpheus/Eurydice is gorgeously set to song. She tells her story of Hadestown with a mix of old blues, folk, and soul music that places it in a time period that you think you know, but with an almost ethereal otherworldly feel to it all. If I could, I would share all of the lyrics with you here right now, but that would be too much (but that means you should go and listen to it yourself!)
It's something that I could listen to over and over in order to hear the music one more time. It's something that I could read again and again just to marvel at the story one more time. It's something that I wish I could write someday.
Let the world we dream about be the one we live in now!
It's also something that can speak to us today, even as it tells a story from times long ago. There is nature versus industry, fear versus love, trust and betrayal, building walls and breaking hearts, promises made and promises broken, and the power of a choice, all wrapped up in a story that will continue to be told, if only to try for a happier ending. It's a reminder that in the midst of the burdens of a tragedy, spring will come and we can try again. How fitting it is that the NYC Broadway premiere of the show began on the second day of spring this year...
I'm sharing this with all of you as an example of some beautiful writing that just absolutely blows me away. It truly is an Epic, and it's inspiration for me as I struggle through the frustration of jumbled words and garbled phrases. I want you to listen to the music and then read the words so that you can marvel at this woman's genius too. And if you can, go and see the show! (I won't ruin any more of what happens :) I'm just raving about the music and the story here, but the stage design, lighting, orchestration, and of course the acting is phenomenal as well. They open tonight on Broadway and if I didn't have to resort to selling my kidney, I'd go and see it again.
Come and see how the world could be...
Cause here's the thing: to know how it ends and still begin to sing it again, as if it might turn out this time. I learned that from a friend of mine. On a sunny day there was a railroad car. And a lady stepping off a train. Everybody looked and everybody saw. That spring had come again. With a love song. With a tale of love that never dies. With a love song. For anyone who tries.
Listen to the album on Spotify here. (Note: this is a live recording of one of the earlier productions that doesn't have the full song listing, the current Broadway show has also changed some things around but they haven't released their recording yet - this is where the quotes above are taken from). Listen to the original concept album on Spotify here, when the brilliant Anaïs Mitchell first released her work.
Official Broadway website here.
Update! Since writing this post, Hadestown has been nominated for 14 Tony Awards and won 8, including Best Musical, Director, Score, Orchestration, Scene, Light, Sound, and Best Actor in a Featured Role (for André De Shields - Hermes!) They are releasing an Original Broadway Cast Recording, found here. So go and listen to the official Best Musical on Broadway!
:) Kathryn