Eurydice (Kathryn Whitis) and Orpheus (Tristan Farmer) share a tender moment. Looking on from behind are (from left) Mauro Manganello, Jordan Brooks, Libby Hansen and Naomi Bautista.
The dramatic musical, “Hadestown: Teen Edition,” reimagines the Greek myth of young lovers Orpheus and Eurydice, mingling their story with that of the King of the Underworld, Hades, and his wife, Persephone. The show stresses the power of human connection, and urges people to never give up, no matter how bleak their circumstances.
“It’s my favorite musical because it’s a story about community, human resilience, doing the right thing and having hope when, basically, all the world is hopeless,” said Director Chris Whitney. “It’s very relevant to now. There’s even a song called, ‘Why We Build the Wall,’ about separating people with power from those who do not.”
Show times are Friday, April 25, at 7 p.m.; Saturday, April 26, at 2 and 7 p.m.; Thursday-Friday, May 1-2, at 7 p.m.; and Saturday, May 3, at 2 and 7 p.m. Tickets are $15, adults; $12, students and senior citizens, at the door or via www.fxplayers.org.
With a cast and crew of about 80, this version of the story takes place in the Dust Bowl era of 1930s New Orleans. So, said Whitney, “The set will look like the French Quarter, with balconies and bars, but will feel like a speakeasy. There’s also a turntable the actors will dance on while it’s rotating.”
The show will feature a live orchestra, with the musicians onstage with the actors. Regarding costumes, workers in the underworld will be dressed like coal miners. People aboveground will look like farmhands, in jackets and flannels.
In the story, the only seasons are summer and winter. Whenever Persephone is around, it’s really hot; but whenever she leaves, it’s super cold – and she’s always late to return aboveground from Hades. “So Orpheus is writing a song to repair the strained relationship of Hades and Persephone, thereby fixing the seasons so there’ll also be spring and fall,” explained Whitney.
“Meanwhile, Eurydice makes a deal with Hades to go to the underworld because she’s starving,” he continued. “But then she learns it means she’s in hell, so Orpheus has to travel there to bring her back. Because of the subject matter, it’s a mentally and emotionally draining show for the singers, dancers and actors. But working with them is therapeutic.
“They surprise me every day and make me smile because of their talent. Audiences will be amazed with the voices we have; the choreography by students Nate Smith, Naomi Bautista and Libby Hansen; and the overall talent they’ll see onstage. The show’s message is of human resilience. At the beginning, someone says, ‘This is a sad song, but we’re gonna sing it anyway,’ because they’ve got to keep trying.”
Portraying Orpheus is junior Tristan Farmer. “He’s an orphan and a poet,” said Farmer. “He’s naïve and optimistic and sees the world through rose-colored glasses and the way it should be. He’s a glass-half-full person, as well as boyish, creative and deep, and he romanticizes everything.”
Farmer enjoys playing a lead and showing his character’s depth, plus “his arc going from a happy person to having to come to terms with the fact that the world isn’t great, at all. He also has the responsibility of writing the song. So literally, the fate of the world is on his shoulders while, simultaneously, he has to travel to Hadestown – hell – to save the woman he loves. He was so focused on writing the song, he didn’t know Eurydice was starving.”
His favorite number is “If It’s True,” which he sings. “It’s my character’s breaking point – the moment he realizes he’s lost everything,” said Farmer. “It’s politically relevant to modern day. But at the same time, it’s also uplifting with a message that, if we come together, we can fix things.”
He said audiences will love this show because “the set is gorgeous, the performances are beautiful and we have a really talented cast. And it’s a heart-wrenching, happy and loving story that goes through all the emotions. People unite to try to make a change and, even when they fail, they try again.”
Senior Kathryn Whitis plays Eurydicde. “She’s always been on her own, so she’s self-reliant and has a strong mindset about the way the world is and that it’s not going to change,” said Whitis. “She’s the opposite of Orpheus and is the cup half empty. She’s wary of others and – because the fates are always sabotaging her plans – nothing ever goes right for her.”
Whitis loves portraying Eurydice because “this is a new show and she’s a really cool character. I get to play a darker person with more depth to her and portray the hurt she’s felt. And because I’m a senior playing a leading role, I can go out with a bang.”
She especially likes the song, “Promises,” which she sings with Farmer, with the workers in the background. “Orpheus tells Eurydice he can’t offer her a ring or fair skies, but he’ll always be there to support her,” said Whitis. “It’s a beautiful piece and a promise to her, and also to the workers, that they’ll finally get to leave Hadestown.”
She said the “incredible” set will wow audiences, as will the talents of Farmer, and Olive Webster as Persephone. “The actors tell most of the story through song, and it’s so impactful – with Eurydice’s and Orpheus’s different views of the world – the audience will get chills,” said Whitis. “Despite their circumstances, there’s still so much hope for a better world. It's a beautiful story.”
Playing Hermes, the messenger god, is junior Nate Smith. “He’s part of the story and also narrates it,” said Smith. “He’s a mentor to Orpheus and like the father he never had. He teaches Orpheus how to navigate his way through love and helps the audience understand what’s going on, on a deeper level – the show’s underlying meaning. He’s wise, but still playful and fun, and cares deeply about the story he’s telling onstage. He tells it again and again because it’s such an important lesson.”
Smith enjoys his role because it’s written so each actor gets to put his or her own stamp on it. “My version is slightly younger and more playful,” he said. “And because I’m also a dancer, Hermes gets to be in several of the dance numbers.”
As one of the show’s choreographers, he worked on more than 13 songs. “It was a fun challenge focusing on the difference between the actors’ movements when they’re in the underworld vs. aboveground,” he said. “In Hadestown, they make strong angles and sharp, taxing movements. But aboveground, their movements are free, fun, more relaxed and flowing.
“I particularly worked with the three fates – other storytellers – and their movement is more upbeat, inspired by samba and salsa. They’re really cool, with fast-paced, smooth moves, and it was fun collaborating with them.” Smith’s favorite number is “When the Chips Are Down,” which he choreographed alone. “The fates dance while telling a story, and I love their high-speed, crisp moves,” he said. “It’s fun watching them and shows their cool dynamic.”
Junior Nikolai Crowl portrays Hades. “He’s an industrialist and a king and rules the underworld,” said Crowl. “He’s compulsive, powerful, knows what he wants and is going to get it, no matter the fallout. He tries to provide for his wife, but she doesn’t like the lengths he goes to to please her. So he feels like he’s given up everything for her, but she’s rejecting it all. They really love each other, but their relationship has drifted.”
Crowl said it’s sometimes difficult to get into Hades’s headspace. “It’s a human instinct to want things to go your way, but what he does to make that happen isn’t what I’d do,” he explained. “He controls people beyond their willingness. But I’m grateful I got the role; it’s a great experience.”
Crowl especially likes the song, “Wait for Me.” It’s sung during Orpheus’s journey into the underworld, among the workers. “Hermes is guiding him, and when Orpheus sings this song, it opens the walls of Hadestown,” said Crowl. “It’s his plea to Eurydice that he’s coming for her.”
He said audiences will like “the energy we all bring to the stage. The show is authentic and down-to-earth. And there are so many high points that’ll make the audience happy, they won’t be able to help but smile.”