I've almost reached my goal of seeing 52 West End shows this year 😊 check out my other reviews here: th-cam.com/play/PLSHIWCqKnU0Dyosa7_EAC8ZeS1jBih2_4.html 🎭
Glad you’re coming around to it! Seeing understudies for Hadestown is great! The whole point of this show going to see a story that we already know will end in heartbreak. It’s about hoping against hope that the world can change and be better. Economically, politically, climate wise. It might be foolish to hope the way we do but it’s also beautiful. Seeing different casts illustrates the timelessness and universality of the story. I have seen it 4 times life and listened to it countless times as well as watching bootlegs… Hadestown always has something new to say it allows its performers to bring themselves to the characters.
Thanks so much for your comment! It definitely feels that the more I listen to it and see it, the more I’m getting into it. The crowd was loving it on the night too…it’s such a special show! Truly unique!
Yes I would say that it's pretty important to go into the show with some idea of the myths because the emotional core of the show is to make you hope that it would show you the way the story could be in spite of the way that it is. so it's good to have some idea of how the myth ends
I was on row A on the grand circle and the seats were pretty terrible. Everyone sat on that row was at the edge of their seat and leant on the balcony (worth the back ache in the end, incredible show)
I totally agree! I was so surprised by that…I know that seats in some theatres are pretty but this was really uncomfortable. Worth it tho! I’d love to go back to see it again. ☺️
Yep, us too. Went on Thursday matinee and struggled to see the whole stage. A little disappointed, but the show, so so brilliant. Amazing vocals, harmonies from The Fates were spine tingling. Loved it and would go again, but not those seats
I saw the West End production and it was ok, but I was also not blown away. Saw the production on Broadway last weekend and I cannot emphasize enough how much better it was. Talent, band, set, all aspects were higher production value in New York.
Yeah I too feel like I went on a journey with this one to learn to appreciate it. I remember when it was up for Tonys and I saw the performance during the Tony Awards I just didn't get the appeal. But recently I was to go see a Teen Edition version and I wanted to know the music/songs beforehand so I could appreciate it more. I do know the myth story as I read the Greek myths years ago. At listening first it was puzzling but I listened again and again really focusing on the words and meanings and then I understood and I felt it and I was hooked! I haven't been this into a musical since Hamilton! However yes this one does not have as wide appeal as a Hamilton, it's more niche both in the story and music. Then seeing the show live knowing the music etc made it more worthwhile!
I had a very similar experience. The more I was listening to the soundtrack, the more additional meaning and mastery of both the score and the story came through. One of my favourite shows! 😊
I very much disagree. The understudy for eurydice was AMAZING and i thought they had really good chemistry. I loved her voice so much i actually thought she shouldve been cast as the lead having heard the lead in previews.
That’s so interesting! I had no reference as haven’t seen the show before or listened to the soundtrack…will defo go see it again. I agree with you that she was good and she has great voice but didn’t feel convinced about them being in love with each other.
@@KristinaEmilyOfficial I saw the understudy for Eurydice as well and I also felt that the one thing missing from the show was chemistry between Orpheus and Eurydice. They're both amazing singers but, yeah, I agree that the chemistry was a bit off.
@@phoebeh209 ahh glad to hear I’m not the only one…felt critical for saying it but it just didn’t do it for me. But hoping next time I go see it, it will be a good thing to compare two performances with a slightly different cast. 😊
Saw it few weeks ago for the first time just before cast change and absolutely loved it… I booked to see it again on 2nd and 16th November only because my favourite Elphaba (Rachel Tucker) is playing Persephone:)
I've listened it on Spotify but looks like there is this playlist on TH-cam: th-cam.com/video/ZgsfT2w7FfM/w-d-xo.html&ab_channel=Andr%C3%A9DeShields-Topic
I would say be familiar with Hades and Persephone but don’t with Orpheus and Eurydice because I didn’t know anything about them and it made the ending really hit
That's such an interesting point! I wasn't that close to either so some elements were lost of me the first time I watched it but am planning to go to see it again as am obsessed with the soundtrack and the story now I know more about it. 😊
When you listen more to the soundtrack you find more and more meaning laying underneath the surface of the words. This meaning gives you even more investment in orpheus making it out and even know you know he's not making it, you so desperately hope he does it's still shocking. At least, for me. I really hope I'm not the only one and other people have this incredible experience too.
Went in blind just this week, though I knew all about the myth (and just watched Kaos so was even more reminded), and I still held my breath at the end wondering if they'd tweak it...even though I knew better. Still hit!
Fabulous show for me and I don’t really enjoy musicals. Grand circle front row seating is poor. Seats are too low and you can’t see over the balustrade
They resisted tue urge to overproduce the show and that takes a lot of restraint in the west end. Some shows have turned there pre-west end fanbase against them by drowning the Spartan in expensive glitz
Couldn’t agree more! I’ve read somewhere that they had attempts of a more elaborate set but afterwards they settled for something more minimalistic. And I’m so glad they did! 😊
Damn such a shame. If you HAVE to digest and force yourself to like a production LATER rather than in that very moment, then that in itself is a tragedy and not a good show at all. One expects to be blown away in the moment of watching a show. Thanks for the heads up! ✌️
It's a shame, I really wanted to like it, me personally I didn't get the story or liked the songs that much, maybe it's one of those musicals you either love or not ?
@@aviationphan1847 I was also confused by the story slightly when I went to see it but afterwards I read the programme and about the musical on the internet and that helped me understand it better. I really liked the music tho so I gave the soundtrack another listen and after that the whole new world opened up and now I can't stop listening to it. I'm definitely planning to go see it again. What helped me is reading up about the myths - Orpheus & Eurydice as well as Persephone & Hades. There are a lot of powerful messages about the environment, capitalism and hope for better tomorrow so I've found it quite fascinating in the end.
I hated it the first time I saw it. I saw it in a huge regional theatre and only knew the ending. Then I read everyone raving about it and decided to give it another chance on Broadway. I got second row center orchestra seats, did research on the characters and listened to the music with the lyrics side by side for a week. Wow! What a difference! The largest Broadway theatre is still smaller than a regional theatre. This time I adored it. I saw it with an incredible cast, especially Jordan Fisher, Phillip Boykin and Maia Reficco. I was so close I could practically touch the actors and see every expression on their faces. Felt like was going to get hit in the head with a swinging light from Hell!I’ve since seen it again and am now going to see it again fourth time with Lillian’s White as Hermes, who has played the role before. Now I am a convert and have listened to the music many times on utube. Can’t get this show out of my head! All I can say, is if you hated this show like me, do some research and try again.
My husband and I are in London right now and and, just last night, went to see it. We left at the interval. Just was not feeling it at all. We did not think the music was amazing. We also thought a lot of the lyrics were weak.. I did appreciate the performers. They were very talented and were putting a LOT into their performances. I suppose things might've come together in the second half, but we weren't captivated enough to give it more time. The scene with the hanging lamps was very well done and that staging was a standout. I'm going to put this down to personal likes/dislikes and not a straight-on combination of this show! It just wasn't for us. I'd completely agree with listening to the sound track before you go as well as familiarizing yourself with the story line of this play. Might of made a difference for us.... don't know.
I saw the show in May and found the Fates distracting from the entire production. The Fates are, from mythology, three goddesses who roughly look the same (beautiful) but have different functions...but the emphasis is trio. In this production, the Fates were straight out of the Sesame Street vignette that one of these things does not belong together. The production had two women, roughly the same size, with the third the size and height of the other two...together. it does not matter if s/he were a very large woman, a trans woman, or a man in drag....it was distracting from the entire production. The Fates were background singers...both figuratively for the play and literally. The size discrepancy added no value to the production. Only detracted
The Fates are integral to the show as they are the voices in the characters heads and the embodiment of the forces pushing and pulling at them. In the show I saw (not this one) the women were different sizes but their voices blended really well together, they kind of sounded like the Andrews sisters and were great!
Can’t disagree more. There was no clear storyline and lacked any explanation of the characters or the plot, with too many metaphors. The music was good but quite monotonous and some clear talent in the company. Nothing stuck out or connected with me and I was lost, it was quite tedious and unmemorable. Left after the first half
There's actually two clear storylines but you can't fully understand them when you only watch 1/2 of it. Also if you went on broadway idk why you would leave unless ur hella rich because that shits expensive. (spoilers) They do a pretty good job of explaining what is needed of the characters given the short amount of time and depth of the actual characters. So while I wish they could add an extra hour for absolute new people to fully understand, I think if people pay attention they can at least get the surface level understand of these two people are gods that are having a falling out causing the weather to be harsh, second plot of two people falling in love and one has a gift with music. One lover basically dies so the other goes to save her, (now you wouldn't know because you left) teaches the gods love in a full circle moment that shows how the two pairs of lovers are connected and let the mortal lovers leave (essentially hell) under the condition that they must trust each other and the gods (full song explaining why he decided on the condition) but the moral lover was not trusting enough of the gods and looked behind so she went back to (essentially hell)
I've almost reached my goal of seeing 52 West End shows this year 😊 check out my other reviews here: th-cam.com/play/PLSHIWCqKnU0Dyosa7_EAC8ZeS1jBih2_4.html 🎭
Glad you’re coming around to it! Seeing understudies for Hadestown is great! The whole point of this show going to see a story that we already know will end in heartbreak. It’s about hoping against hope that the world can change and be better. Economically, politically, climate wise. It might be foolish to hope the way we do but it’s also beautiful. Seeing different casts illustrates the timelessness and universality of the story. I have seen it 4 times life and listened to it countless times as well as watching bootlegs… Hadestown always has something new to say it allows its performers to bring themselves to the characters.
Thanks so much for your comment! It definitely feels that the more I listen to it and see it, the more I’m getting into it. The crowd was loving it on the night too…it’s such a special show! Truly unique!
For me….this musical, is absolutely brilliant….loved it! Probably the best & most memorable shows. 10/10
Yes I would say that it's pretty important to go into the show with some idea of the myths because the emotional core of the show is to make you hope that it would show you the way the story could be in spite of the way that it is. so it's good to have some idea of how the myth ends
For me it was love at first site. This is the best show ever. The feelings this gave was insane
I’m glad to hear you enjoyed it so much! It truly is a special show! 😊
I was on row A on the grand circle and the seats were pretty terrible. Everyone sat on that row was at the edge of their seat and leant on the balcony (worth the back ache in the end, incredible show)
I totally agree! I was so surprised by that…I know that seats in some theatres are pretty but this was really uncomfortable. Worth it tho! I’d love to go back to see it again. ☺️
Yep, us too. Went on Thursday matinee and struggled to see the whole stage. A little disappointed, but the show, so so brilliant. Amazing vocals, harmonies from The Fates were spine tingling. Loved it and would go again, but not those seats
I saw the West End production and it was ok, but I was also not blown away. Saw the production on Broadway last weekend and I cannot emphasize enough how much better it was. Talent, band, set, all aspects were higher production value in New York.
Good to know, seeing as how I live a lot closer to NYC than to London!
Yeah I too feel like I went on a journey with this one to learn to appreciate it. I remember when it was up for Tonys and I saw the performance during the Tony Awards I just didn't get the appeal. But recently I was to go see a Teen Edition version and I wanted to know the music/songs beforehand so I could appreciate it more. I do know the myth story as I read the Greek myths years ago. At listening first it was puzzling but I listened again and again really focusing on the words and meanings and then I understood and I felt it and I was hooked! I haven't been this into a musical since Hamilton! However yes this one does not have as wide appeal as a Hamilton, it's more niche both in the story and music. Then seeing the show live knowing the music etc made it more worthwhile!
I had a very similar experience. The more I was listening to the soundtrack, the more additional meaning and mastery of both the score and the story came through. One of my favourite shows! 😊
I very much disagree. The understudy for eurydice was AMAZING and i thought they had really good chemistry. I loved her voice so much i actually thought she shouldve been cast as the lead having heard the lead in previews.
That’s so interesting! I had no reference as haven’t seen the show before or listened to the soundtrack…will defo go see it again. I agree with you that she was good and she has great voice but didn’t feel convinced about them being in love with each other.
@@KristinaEmilyOfficial I saw the understudy for Eurydice as well and I also felt that the one thing missing from the show was chemistry between Orpheus and Eurydice. They're both amazing singers but, yeah, I agree that the chemistry was a bit off.
@@phoebeh209 ahh glad to hear I’m not the only one…felt critical for saying it but it just didn’t do it for me. But hoping next time I go see it, it will be a good thing to compare two performances with a slightly different cast. 😊
i agree with you - i thought madeline was absolutely amazing as eurydice!
@@phoebeh209may I ask who you saw? I saw Madeline and really wasn't happy so I am wondering if you share this
Saw it few weeks ago for the first time just before cast change and absolutely loved it… I booked to see it again on 2nd and 16th November only because my favourite Elphaba (Rachel Tucker) is playing Persephone:)
So glad to hear that! I really want to see it again too! 😍
Is the soundtrack on TH-cam
I've listened it on Spotify but looks like there is this playlist on TH-cam: th-cam.com/video/ZgsfT2w7FfM/w-d-xo.html&ab_channel=Andr%C3%A9DeShields-Topic
I would say be familiar with Hades and Persephone but don’t with Orpheus and Eurydice because I didn’t know anything about them and it made the ending really hit
That's such an interesting point! I wasn't that close to either so some elements were lost of me the first time I watched it but am planning to go to see it again as am obsessed with the soundtrack and the story now I know more about it. 😊
When you listen more to the soundtrack you find more and more meaning laying underneath the surface of the words.
This meaning gives you even more investment in orpheus making it out and even know you know he's not making it, you so desperately hope he does it's still shocking.
At least, for me. I really hope I'm not the only one and other people have this incredible experience too.
Went in blind just this week, though I knew all about the myth (and just watched Kaos so was even more reminded), and I still held my breath at the end wondering if they'd tweak it...even though I knew better. Still hit!
Fabulous show for me and I don’t really enjoy musicals. Grand circle front row seating is poor. Seats are too low and you can’t see over the balustrade
Ahh that’s amazing to hear! I’m so glad you enjoyed it - it’s one of a kind! Agreed…my seat was also pretty uncomfortable.
I just seen it tonight, I absolutely loved it right from the start and I’m not a fan of musicals
Love to hear that! It’s an amazing show - glad you’ve had a great time! 😊
They resisted tue urge to overproduce the show and that takes a lot of restraint in the west end. Some shows have turned there pre-west end fanbase against them by drowning the Spartan in expensive glitz
Couldn’t agree more! I’ve read somewhere that they had attempts of a more elaborate set but afterwards they settled for something more minimalistic. And I’m so glad they did! 😊
Damn such a shame. If you HAVE to digest and force yourself to like a production LATER rather than in that very moment, then that in itself is a tragedy and not a good show at all. One expects to be blown away in the moment of watching a show. Thanks for the heads up! ✌️
I saw it in London and unfortunately it is the worst musical I've seen. Someone else I know left at the interval
Ahh sorry to hear you didn't enjoy it! What about it you didn't like?
It's a shame, I really wanted to like it, me personally I didn't get the story or liked the songs that much, maybe it's one of those musicals you either love or not ?
@@aviationphan1847 I was also confused by the story slightly when I went to see it but afterwards I read the programme and about the musical on the internet and that helped me understand it better. I really liked the music tho so I gave the soundtrack another listen and after that the whole new world opened up and now I can't stop listening to it. I'm definitely planning to go see it again. What helped me is reading up about the myths - Orpheus & Eurydice as well as Persephone & Hades. There are a lot of powerful messages about the environment, capitalism and hope for better tomorrow so I've found it quite fascinating in the end.
I hated it the first time I saw it. I saw it in a huge regional theatre and only knew the ending. Then I read everyone raving about it and decided to give it another chance on Broadway. I got second row center orchestra seats, did research on the characters and listened to the music with the lyrics side by side for a week. Wow! What a difference! The largest Broadway theatre is still smaller than a regional theatre. This time I adored it. I saw it with an incredible cast, especially Jordan Fisher, Phillip Boykin and Maia Reficco. I was so close I could practically touch the actors and see every expression on their faces. Felt like was going to get hit in the head with a swinging light from Hell!I’ve since seen it again and am now going to see it again fourth time with Lillian’s White as Hermes, who has played the role before. Now I am a convert and have listened to the music many times on utube. Can’t get this show out of my head! All I can say, is if you hated this show like me, do some research and try again.
My husband and I are in London right now and and, just last night, went to see it. We left at the interval. Just was not feeling it at all. We did not think the music was amazing. We also thought a lot of the lyrics were weak.. I did appreciate the performers. They were very talented and were putting a LOT into their performances. I suppose things might've come together in the second half, but we weren't captivated enough to give it more time. The scene with the hanging lamps was very well done and that staging was a standout. I'm going to put this down to personal likes/dislikes and not a straight-on combination of this show! It just wasn't for us. I'd completely agree with listening to the sound track before you go as well as familiarizing yourself with the story line of this play. Might of made a difference for us.... don't know.
I saw the show in May and found the Fates distracting from the entire production. The Fates are, from mythology, three goddesses who roughly look the same (beautiful) but have different functions...but the emphasis is trio.
In this production, the Fates were straight out of the Sesame Street vignette that one of these things does not belong together. The production had two women, roughly the same size, with the third the size and height of the other two...together. it does not matter if s/he were a very large woman, a trans woman, or a man in drag....it was distracting from the entire production. The Fates were background singers...both figuratively for the play and literally. The size discrepancy added no value to the production. Only detracted
The Fates are integral to the show as they are the voices in the characters heads and the embodiment of the forces pushing and pulling at them. In the show I saw (not this one) the women were different sizes but their voices blended really well together, they kind of sounded like the Andrews sisters and were great!
Yes. Knowing the myth helps...which you should have if you a highschool education.😂
Not enough time to go over every Greek myth in high school. Now a days they do more modern stories. Sorry but true
Not every high school teaches Greek Mythology sadly
@@wonderfullymonstrous2679 yep
Completely overrated, so many better musicals in the West End, that doesn't include ' Hamilton ',which is also very overrated.
Amen
Can’t disagree more. There was no clear storyline and lacked any explanation of the characters or the plot, with too many metaphors. The music was good but quite monotonous and some clear talent in the company. Nothing stuck out or connected with me and I was lost, it was quite tedious and unmemorable. Left after the first half
There's actually two clear storylines but you can't fully understand them when you only watch 1/2 of it. Also if you went on broadway idk why you would leave unless ur hella rich because that shits expensive.
(spoilers)
They do a pretty good job of explaining what is needed of the characters given the short amount of time and depth of the actual characters. So while I wish they could add an extra hour for absolute new people to fully understand, I think if people pay attention they can at least get the surface level understand of these two people are gods that are having a falling out causing the weather to be harsh, second plot of two people falling in love and one has a gift with music. One lover basically dies so the other goes to save her, (now you wouldn't know because you left) teaches the gods love in a full circle moment that shows how the two pairs of lovers are connected and let the mortal lovers leave (essentially hell) under the condition that they must trust each other and the gods (full song explaining why he decided on the condition) but the moral lover was not trusting enough of the gods and looked behind so she went back to (essentially hell)