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| Hadestown this afternoon | |
| Last Edit: Delvino 07:33 pm EDT 07/19/23 | |
| Posted by: Delvino 07:29 pm EDT 07/19/23 | |
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| Everyone who posts here regularly has seen this Tony winner but me. As with Come From Away, which I delayed until its final two months, I just didn't get to the show -- mysteriously, it didn't feel like an early must-see -- and unlike Come From Away, it wasn't on TDF, at least not when I was checking. To my eyes, it's in gorgeous shape, almost 4 years on, and was appropriately cheered to the rafters of the Walter Kerr. I attribute much of its freshness and audience access to the gracious warmth of Lilias White, Broadway royalty, who is tasked with welcoming us from the lip of the stage with a big-hearted confidence that pulls everyone forward immediately. But the quartet of leads is terrific, the two young stars the originals. I've read a fair amount of disappointment about Reeve Carney, but he was in beautiful voice today, as centered as anyone could imagine. Not only did I not detect long run fatigue with Carney and Noblezada (soon to depart), I felt an aching emotional investment, in every way present. Technique is the disciplined actor's best friend playing eight shows a week for years, and I don't doubt that these two have found ways to keep this intricately staged show new. Yet it (still) feels lived in, in that way new shows do. (To my point about White: the company fairly crackles in celebration of the immediacy of the connection with the audience.) Though I get reservations about the Carney vocals -- not mine, but I read some only last week; not everyone's taste -- I can't see that these two stars are giving anything less than their all. Going in familiar with the soulful, lyrical Mitchell score enhanced my appreciation, but it's terrifically performed in the Kerr, the sound superb, robust volume in service of a show that has breathtaking crescendos, sung and via instrumentation. Chavkin's visual storytelling is the co-event, reaching a peak the the coup de theatre that defines "Wait for Me" near the close of act one. The seemingly simple unit set transforms repeatedly, Chavkin finding invention in the smallest adjustments in stage pictures (Bradley King's lighting, poetic collaboration), the blocking and choreography in service of a tale delineated by strung-together set pieces more than incremental movement in narrative. Yet the storytelling never feels handed down to us; everything is mostly shown rather than described. Considering how circumstantial the myth generated plotting is -- events tend to be defined by departures and arrivals and stated changes in loyalties -- the show feels powerfully nuanced, its smallest moments -- like the final exit -- among the most heart rending. Late to the party, but I am a deeply moved party guest. |
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| Really appreciate this beautifully well-written observation, Delvino (nm) | |
| Posted by: GrumpyMorningBoy 12:03 pm EDT 07/20/23 | |
| In reply to: Hadestown this afternoon - Delvino 07:29 pm EDT 07/19/23 | |
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| nm means Noblezada marvel | |
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| It’s rare for an actor to stay with a show this long | |
| Posted by: dramedy 10:25 pm EDT 07/19/23 | |
| In reply to: Hadestown this afternoon - Delvino 07:29 pm EDT 07/19/23 | |
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| But there was a break for Covid so not a solid four years. | |
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| re: It’s rare for an actor to stay with a show this long | |
| Last Edit: Delvino 10:00 am EDT 07/20/23 | |
| Posted by: Delvino 09:59 am EDT 07/20/23 | |
| In reply to: It’s rare for an actor to stay with a show this long - dramedy 10:25 pm EDT 07/19/23 | |
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| As someone who has posted often here about the return of NY theater in the fall of 2021, I can assure my fact checkers that I understand how Covid's shutdown eliminated the possibility of four consecutive years. My point is: Hadestown has played 1167+ performances on Broadway, including its 27 previews, its two young stars the only actors contracted for the two roles, barring vacations. | |
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| My point was | |
| Last Edit: dramedy 11:09 am EDT 07/20/23 | |
| Posted by: dramedy 11:08 am EDT 07/20/23 | |
| In reply to: re: It’s rare for an actor to stay with a show this long - Delvino 09:59 am EDT 07/20/23 | |
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| That it wasn’t a thousand consecutive performances for actor burnout. It’s not uncommon for actor to do 400-500 performances before leaving. But covid gave a year plus break from work so it is almost like starting the clock again on performance burnout. Of course Adrian Warren came back for only a few weeks in Tina but she might have had other commitments. | |
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| re: It’s rare for an actor to stay with a show this long | |
| Posted by: mikem 09:07 am EDT 07/20/23 | |
| In reply to: It’s rare for an actor to stay with a show this long - dramedy 10:25 pm EDT 07/19/23 | |
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| It's especially rare for an actor to stay so long when they are in a lead role and are still in their 20s, because they might be losing career momentum. I remember Ashley Brown stayed with Mary Poppins for 2 full years and I was surprised by that decision. John Lloyd Young, although a bit older, also stayed with Jersey Boys for over 2 years and I think he lost career momentum by doing that. But maybe COVID restricted opportunities for Noblezada, so there may not have been a lot of other options to take. | |
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| re: It’s rare for an actor to stay with a show this long | |
| Posted by: ablankpage 09:20 am EDT 07/20/23 | |
| In reply to: re: It’s rare for an actor to stay with a show this long - mikem 09:07 am EDT 07/20/23 | |
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| Even though an actor is in a show, they never stop auditioning, participating in readings, etc. It just might be that Eva hasn't been offered anything/nothing fell into place that made it worth leaving Hadestown. She also opened two big Broadway shows and received two lead actress Tony noms, so the scope of projects she would likely be willing to take at the point is probably fairly narrow. | |
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| re: It’s rare for an actor to stay with a show this long | |
| Posted by: KingSpeed 03:37 pm EDT 07/20/23 | |
| In reply to: re: It’s rare for an actor to stay with a show this long - ablankpage 09:20 am EDT 07/20/23 | |
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| I think actors negotiate raises and perks like a car to pick you up and take you home if they stay in the show longer. | |
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| re: It’s rare for an actor to stay with a show this long | |
| Posted by: mikem 11:17 am EDT 07/20/23 | |
| In reply to: re: It’s rare for an actor to stay with a show this long - ablankpage 09:20 am EDT 07/20/23 | |
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| You make a good point that she already has 2 lead Tony nominations (I think she was only 23 when she got the second one, and I think she might be the youngest person to do that ever), so for her next step to be a featured role in a so-so musical probably wouldn't be a great career move for her. | |
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| re: It’s rare for an actor to stay with a show this long | |
| Posted by: Thom915 09:44 am EDT 07/20/23 | |
| In reply to: re: It’s rare for an actor to stay with a show this long - ablankpage 09:20 am EDT 07/20/23 | |
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| I wonder if she was ever sought after for "Here Lies Love?" | |
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| re: Hadestown this afternoon | |
| Posted by: TheOtherOne 10:00 pm EDT 07/19/23 | |
| In reply to: Hadestown this afternoon - Delvino 07:29 pm EDT 07/19/23 | |
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| Other than the fact of my seeing it last night and not this afternoon, I could have written this post. My experience exactly. I did see understudy Brit West go on for Persephone, but she was as strong a member of this ensemble as anyone. A wonderful show I heartily recommend to anyone who’s been on the fence. Ann’s recent post about scoring a good seat c/o TDF inspired a “what are you waiting for?” moment. |
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| re: Hadestown this afternoon | |
| Posted by: jacobsk 11:26 am EDT 07/20/23 | |
| In reply to: re: Hadestown this afternoon - TheOtherOne 10:00 pm EDT 07/19/23 | |
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| Eva is a MUST SEE, as is often echo'd. See her with Reeve and get the best Hadestown experience. I've seen 3 Hermes - all were good. I've seen 2 Eurydice - one was not good, Eva is a beautiful rough diamond up there who can do no wrong in my book. I've seen 1 Orpheus - Reeve every time out of 4 and I think he is great, regardless of the flack one often hears. I've seen 3 Persephones - Joelle and Amber were amazing. An understudy once was fine. I've seen 3 Hades - Patrick was the best, but they've all been good (even too young, very hot, very tall Hades who had to take a different take on the songs still did well). But, if you can see Lillias, Eva, Reeve, Joelle and Tom ... GO! You must see Eva! K |
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| re: Hadestown this afternoon | |
| Posted by: lowwriter 02:41 am EDT 07/21/23 | |
| In reply to: re: Hadestown this afternoon - jacobsk 11:26 am EDT 07/20/23 | |
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| I saw Hadestown tonight with a great first row front mezzanine seat from TDF. Eva was out the last time I saw the show last year but I was thrilled with her performance tonight. Just as committed as when I first saw the show in previews years ago. She and Reeve are perfect together. I wonder if he will leave the show as well in a few months. I thought all the replacements were fine, although no one can quite capture the special something Amber Gray added as Persephone. | |
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