Laura and Samara spend their days as non-profit unicorns and fill every spare minute exploring the world of musical theatre as BFFs (that’s Broadway Friends Forever). Follow @bffs613 on X/Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.
Broadway Across Canada is bringing a little bit of the underworld to the National Arts Centre with its presentation of Hadestown. Playing on a twist of the Greek legends of Hades, Persephone, Hermes, Eurydice and Orpheus, the musical is set in a 1920s New Orleans factory town and showcases jazz and American folk influences. The show offers audiences new perspectives on themes of love, hope, faith and rebirth, and reminds us that history is a cycle that sometimes repeats itself.
The most lauded show of the 2018–2019 Tony Awards, Hadestown took home eight Tonys as well as the Grammy for Best Musical Theatre Album that year, with music by celebrated singer-songwriter Anaïs Mitchell— and no wonder, as the music in this show is so fitting for the story. It is haunting, beautiful, powerful, and serene, and you will surely leave with at least one song stuck in your head.
From the sets to the costumes, staging, songs, and choreography, each piece of this production flows together seamlessly to fully transport you into their world. You can feel the dark seedy underbelly of the world looming as the story brings you down a path of love, life, and cruel realities. If you saw the 2019 Tony performance, including pieces from “Wait For Me,” you’ve had a taste of the feeling of the whole stage enveloping you.
Hadestown’s three Fates. Photo: T. Charles Erickson.
With such a strong lineup for the cast, it’s hard to pinpoint just one favourite, but you’ll certainly have a special place in your heart for the incredible baritone of Matthew Patrick Quinn as Hades and for the Fates, played by Dominique Kempf, Belén Moyano, and Nyla Watson. The small but mighty cast is elevated by the outstanding onstage musicians who bring the big-band jazz sound to this mythical tale.
Audiences were cheering from beginning to end and were on their feet the second the last note hit. It’s a moving production based on stories from lifetimes ago that still holds true and is relatable in the present day. If you’re not familiar with the tale, take a few minutes to read your program, as it will help you understand the story more quickly. You’ll see that some things never change, including human nature. If you’re familiar with the tales, though you may know how this story ends, the journey there is bound to keep you on your toes.
Hadestown, presented by Broadway Across Canada, takes place from August 22 to 27 at the National Arts Centre. Evening performances are at 8pm, except Sunday at 7:30pm. Matinees are on Saturday at 2pm and Sunday at 1pm. The show runs for 2 hours and 30 minutes with an intermission. Tickets are available through the NAC Box Office or Ticketmaster. This show is recommended for ages 8 and up.
The NAC’s main accessible entrance is on Elgin Street. The Canal Lobby entrance and Parking 2 and 3 vestibules are also accessible. Seating for wheelchair users, the visually impaired and their companions is available in every performance venue. All NAC public spaces, event spaces, and washrooms are wheelchair accessible. Universal and companion care washrooms are located on the Orchestra level of Southam Hall.
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