I almost didn’t put this on the list, because I’d only heard about it from the blog of one single person. I’m sooooo glad I put it down. I love Hadestown.
It started as a concept album, which is what I listened to. A theater version was adapted from that, with expanded songs. I haven’t listened to it yet, but apparently it’s on spotify, and I’m probably going to buy it from iTunes. The story is a version of Orpheus and Eurydice, the Greek myth where Eurydice dies and Orpheus goes to Hades to try to bring her back. The setting, though, is a sort of great depression/post apocalyptic type thing. Instead of dying, Eurydice goes to Hadestown, which is Hades’s factory, because she’s hungry and Orpheus can’t provide for her. She soon realizes that she can’t leave because of the contract she signed.
Honestly, just from the concept album, I think Orpheus is the weakest part of the whole thing. But the rest of the characters are incredibly interesting. Hadestown describes itself as a folk opera, and all the songs are folksy and jazz. There aren’t really any fast, flashy showtunes, but it really is a wonderful listen. I’ve listened to Why We Build the Wall probably 50 times today.
Unfortunately, there’s no way to watch it aside from short promotional clips, which is a shame because I really would like to see how they make it work visually and aesthetically. But on the bright side, you can listen to the whole concept album on youtube. And you absolutely should.
Next time: Be More Chill!
Daisy M. Hall 
2 thoughts on “MTM Day 14: Hadestown”