Hadestown
Review by Sam
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
On the road to hell there was a brand new West End cast, and as the Tony award winning musical chugs into its second year, they’re gonna sing it again!
Playing at the Lyric Theatre, Hadestown tells the Greek tale of Orpheus and Eurydice, brought to life with music, lyrics and book by Anaïs Mitchell. The show has cemented itself as one of the musical theatre greats, and the newest cast continue this legacy as they boldly make the show their own.
The entire production feels re-invigorated, with the cast bringing a fresh take on these iconic characters and adding their own dynamic flair. They bring endless swagger and soul to the stage, with updated vocal choices and dialects adding further originality to a musical which simply gets better with every visit.
Taking centre stage, Cedric Neal is simply breathtaking, offering his own mesmerising and aweinspiring take on Hermes. Never missing an opportunity to add jaw dropping vocal riffs, he consistently adds his signature finesse to not just make this role his own, but demonstrate why he was born to play it.
Dylan Wood is quite possibly one of the best Orpheus’ to have graced the stage, delivering a raw and exposed performance which is full of gut-wrenching emotional depth. Much like his character, Wood wears his heart on his sleeve, displaying emotion as he seamlessly switches between passion and hilariously new comedic choices. He is joined by the Desmonda Cathabel who dazzles as Eurydice, adding elegance, grace and heart at every opportunity.
Chris Jarman plays Hades with seductive swagger, powerfully booming his vocals with ease whilst simultaneously bringing a humorous side to the character through his mannerisms. Playing his partner in crime, Victoria Hamilton-Barritt delivers a multi-layered performance fully embracing Persephone’s dizzyingly chaotic side.
The new company may have taken the long way round, but as the second year cast burst into life, they quickly cement themselves into the musicals hall of fame. They collectively bring boundless energy to re-energise the genre-defying production, continuing to tell this story with unrivalled passion.