Plays and Musicals

[koralis]

Started listening to the soundtrack for Hadestown a few days ago... OMG. It's absolutely beautiful. And it actually made me have sympathy for the devil (well, hades). Sure, it's about Orpheus and Euridice, but its Persephone and Hades that actually touch me more. I'm looking forward to seeing the play at some point if the music alone is this impactful. (yes, the whole soundtrack album is on Youtube to listen to in sequence.)

NPR TinyDesk Concert link... Why do we Build the Wall? is the final number in this. Ominous. Haunting. Unending futility. Yes, really sets the mood.

Also, if anyone has a chance to watch Ride the Cyclone, I recommend it. (it's weird, but also very touching)

 

[Trunks0]

That sounded pretty great. I'll have to keep an eye out to see if I can catch a production here in Canada.

Glad I got a chance to see Wicked on Broadway back in 2023. A good play is a pretty amazing experience

 

[koralis]

That sounded pretty great. I'll have to keep an eye out to see if I can catch a production here in Canada.

Glad I got a chance to see Wicked on Broadway back in 2023. A good play is a pretty amazing experience

Saw wicked with my wife and daughter on Broadway... Oh... 10 years ago? Good play, though my daughter and I kinda got into it so a tad tainted.

Have seen a lot more regional productions of things. Book of Mormon, Natasha Pierre and the great comet, rag time, ride the cyclone, something rotten, Evita, miss Saigon, and more.

Having theater friends makes it a fairly regular thing.

 

[Trunks0]

I saw Book of Mormon back in 2019 in London. Damn that was a funny ride

Yeah my partner is pretty big into theatre stuff. Used to do reviews back in University/Collage, so she's kinda been my little tour guide through the fun

 

[koralis]

Sounds like we have at least one taker to talk shop! I'm thinking I might post links and discuss various musicals. Could be fun. After Ride the Cyclone, we'll do Book of Mormon.

Commentary about Hadestown before jumping to the next. Beyond the straight love stories, thematically it seems to be a metaphor of humanity's existence within Nature (Persephone providing food, etc) vs Industrialization and advancement. When Persephone and Hades fall out of love, times get hard for the world and there isn't enough natural abundance to feed everyone (hence forcing Euridice to Hades for relief). Persephone suffers through her winter with Hades via drinking and drugs and when she's back in the land of the living blazes hot, so the gentle times of spring and fall have vanished.

Orpheus' song reminds Hades/Persephone of the love they shared, and it shows the drones of Hadestown that there could be a way out of the grave they've dug themselves. Orpheus, the dreamer, brings Hope and Inspiration. "If you can do it, so can she. If she can do it, so can we." Hades is torn as he wants to please Persephone but this could destroy everything he's worked for, so puts in the gotcha clause. "Hades, you let them go." "I let them try." "So, are we going to try again?" "We'll try again next fall. Wait for me."

It's really much deeper and impactful than I had initially assumed. Banger of a play, and I haven't seen it yet. Being a sung-through play though, the Hadestown Cast Recording pretty much gives you the plot.

Hadestown Soundtrack

 

[koralis]

Since one is very unlikely to stumble upon a production of Ride the Cyclone (very niche), I'm linking one version of the play here. It's been in constant rewrites since it was created, but never a huge following, until someone put What the World Needs on TikTok and all of a sudden it blew up. For the record, the writers don't seem to mind people sharing it as it is bringing visibility to their property (probably hoping they can get an off-broadway production set up.) I saw a production where one of my daughter's oldest friends was playing Ocean.

Quick summary... school kids go to the town fair in a tiny tiny town (Uranium City, Saskatchewan) where nothing happens. There's a roller coaster accident that kills them, and the play is a short purgatory wherein they decide who gets to go back.

I'll leave off commenting on this till monday so as not to spoil it in case anyone wants to watch it. Like I said, it's weird. Noelle's Lament and Space Age Bachelor Man numbers are... something.

 

[koralis]

Yesterday I watched a 1985 filmed version of Pippen on Tubi. It was my wife's first play she saw back in college. That's a surreal trip. William Kat (aka the greatest American Hero) is the lead. Ben Vereen is the leader of the "players" on stage... very meta... they basically help him act out his life and act something like the devil on his shoulder seeking "Complete fullfillment" and an exceptional life.

Bear in mind, he's the son of Charlemange, ultimately becomes the head of the empire, botches it because he knows nothing and tries to make changes that seem good (you know, like eliminating feudalism) but aren't practical, and at the end of the day he undoes all of his changes and runs away. Then he finds a wealthy widow and son, ultimately has a happy life there till she pressures him to marry and become the head of hjousehold and "settle" and he runs away again to ifnd the perfect life, meeting up with this troup. The leader argues that he deserves a spectacular life and exit, one that everyone will be talking about and will remember forever.. he should set himself on fire to gain his fame.

He balks, the wife shows up, and he finally decides that maybe having a good, fullfilling life is just fine. The Leading Player gets angry, but makes no headway, then invites the audience to join the troupe and they'd be happy to help them go out in glory. Ultimately, turn off the lights, music, pull down the curtains as Pippen and wife just stand there.

Like I said.. a surreal trip. I guess I liked it? It's sooooo weird. I appreciate the message though. Be able to be content.


I'm probably going to be seeing Hadestown with the family when attending a college presentation in NYC next month.