I probably should have warned her, but I took my 9 year old to see Hadestown on tour a few months ago and I didn't tell her. She gasped "NO!" so loudly the whole theater had to have heard it. I mean, I *knew* it was coming but I think part of me was hoping that it would be different (ah, the moral of the story) and it hit me in the gut too.
I didn’t know the story going in so it was a shock for me. I was like “oh typical love story they’re gonna life happily ever after” then nope. Heart crushed. And then *spolier* when the show just casually restarts I was like.. “what?!”
I really like one of the original versions as I think it’s a lot more devastating. Orpheus somehow manages to hold out from turning around and he gets all the way to the entrance of the underworld. Being so overcome with excitement and adrenaline at how close they are he turns around to celebrate with Euridyce. He was literally almost there. Some versions actually tell it as he steps into the sun but Eurydice was still standing in the doorway. 😔
But in the end, it became better. In the original myths, after Orpheus died he was reunited with Eurydice and either spends an eternity with her wandering the banks of the River Styx or in the Champs-Elysees
My mom compares the hope that Orpheus won’t turn around this time to hoping that Jack will survive the Titanic sinking this time; and I have to say, she’s definitely not wrong.
That compounds the tragedy. The fires he lit in each of them dies the moment he turns. Nothing changes… except, maybe, now that Hades & Persephone have rekindled, balance is restored.
Was on a car trip and had the Hadestown sountrack playing. My mom asked what the songs were from and I told her it was a musical based on the story of Orpheus and Eurydice. I asked her if she knew the story and the momemt she said, "No" I felt my inner gremlin smile devilishly. I didn't tell her how it ended and just told her it was a story of a man braving the underworld to get his dead wife back. I gave her context with each song because she only half listens to lyrics. When we got to the point of the test I told her what he needed to do in order to not lose Eurydice forever. Doubt Comes In starts playing and I remain quiet. The moment it happens, I look over and say quietly, "He looked back." My mother gasped SO hard. 😂
I think the real reason doubt came in to Orpheus mind was because of the fact that no one was reapiting him. Through the whole show everytime he sings people are reapiting right after him and this makes him know that he is not alone, others are hearing him and they are with him. For example in "If it's true" The lyrics say Orpheus turned to go because he thought no one could hear him, but he decides to stay when they repit right after him his words"Is it true what they say" In his mind Others reapitting him is a sign that there is still hope for him. But in doubt comes in its the first time that no one is reapiting, this time everyone is reapiting Eyredecy instead. He sings and seeks for Eyredecy and the workers to reapit after him but there is dead silence. So he goes like "No one is reapiting so maybe no one is listening to me, and if no one is listening to me then no one is behind me, wait am I really all alone?" This is when he begins to slowly lose hope. You know what's the saddest part? THEY WERE LISTENING, THEY WERE BEHIND HIM😢
Guys don't worry he didn't give up he jumped back into the underworld with her and the power of love allowed them to remember themselves, then with the help of the other workers they revolted and escaped Hadestown together. MANIFEST THIS VERSION
To all the people who feel sad about this musical, in the original myth, they get a happy ending. In the original myth, after Orpheus died, he was reunited with Eurydice and now spends an eternity with her wandering on the banks of the river Styx. Or in another version where Orpheus and Eurydice reside together in the Champs-Elysees.
I saw it live last year not at all knowing the story and how it ends, and let me tell you I WEPT like a baby in that theater! Me and a dozen other people in the audience literally gasped "No!"
What makes this even harder is how much Eurydice sings about wanting stability & security and the whole reason she left for Hadestown was because Orpheus couldn’t give it. All she needed was for him not to turn around, and he couldn’t give it to her 😢. She didn’t just lose her love… she lost herself. Devastating.
the tour these days or the pre-broadway tour? I keep hearing the early versions had a very abrupt cutoff where he turns around and a door snaps shut in front of Eurydice, which a lot of people didn't like but was far more of a sharp split with the people who DID like it
I think both versions are equally effective. For the Broadway production the center lift works well(also because the drums are where the door is for the tour). The tour production works well for a show that’s moving into spaces where they won’t have the lift.
After listening so much… I needed to see it with my own eyes. Isn’t it true that Orpheus was out and got excited, so he looked at Eurydice, but she wasn’t out yet?
there are many interpretations of why orpheus turned around at the end. in some versions, eurydice suddenly cries out behind him and orpheus turns to see if she's hurt
The first time I was introduced to this musical I was listening to it on Spotify and it sounded like to me that they made it through. I had never known the og story. I had no reason to think otherwise. And then they went on to say “it’s a sad song” and I asked my bro who introduced me to it what the heck happened. I thought they made it through and he said “he looked back” and I was like “that idiot” 😂
The fate of Orpheus is to be torn apart by Maenads (followers of Dionysus) for refusing to take part in their Bacchanal. I always found that interesting because Dionysian worship is thought to have intermingled with Hades' at some point. We think this because of statues of the two gods are "often" found at the others temples. (Hades didn't have many but it is consistent enough to be noteworthy). It's as though the other aspect of Hades punished him.
tour person y'all had an elevator? she got trapped in the like door thingy which was the train hades came out of not complaining though. really good show.
