Natasha Morrissey reviews the screen release of the critically acclaimed musical, Hadestown.
What’s better than going to watch an emotionally beautiful retelling of Greek myths and the stories of Orpheus and Eurydice, Hades and Persephone?
Hadestown: The Musical is what I would consider musical perfection, shown through the film’s success in US cinemas in July, as box office sales made it the most successful live theatre stage capture. As of October 13th, the film is available in UK cinemas for a limited run and, in my opinion, is worth every penny.
Hadestown: The Musical is what I would consider musical perfection
Filmed in London’s West End, this version of Hadestown highlights the talent of the original Broadway cast through close-ups, capturing emotion you can’t obtain from the farther-away seats of a live theatre performance. This made Orpheus’ journey to the underworld to save Eurydice even more intense. The variety of angles was incredible, making the most of the stage’s turntable. While watching the show is surreal, I feel the cinema release’s dynamic use of angles successfully furthers the emotional impact on the audience at the dramatic end of the show.
As for the actors’ performances, they were nothing short of exceptional. The principals, played by the original Broadway cast, brought new takes to each character, unique to the show. Despite Reeve Carney, who plays Orpheus, receiving some online criticism, I feel his take on Orpheus was new and his performance vocally strong. Eva Noblezada, playing Eurydice, also gave a standout performance, filled with desperation as her character grapples with the struggles of the world. The characters of The Fates and the ensemble were from the current West End cast and gave outstanding performances. It is an immersive roller-coaster to watch.
Overall, if you don’t mind having the catchy songs on repeat in your mind, I feel the show is worth watching, and its box office records are warranted.
