OBSERVER: Hadestown opens
Opera Australia and Jones Theatrical Group present Hadestown, opening in Melbourne on Thursday (May 8) at Her Majesty’s Theatre.
Seen by three million, streamed by over 350 million around the world, singer- songwriter Anaïs Mitchell’s acclaimed West End and Broadway musical phenomenon Hadestown, won eight Tony Awards when it opened on Broadway in 2019.
Christine Anu (pictured) leads the cast of multi-talented musical theatre performers, playing the role of narrator Hermes.
Anu is joined on stage by rising star Abigail Adriano as Eurydice, who portrayed Kim in Miss Saigon, Noah Mullins as Orpheus, (West Side Story, La Cage Aux Folles), Opera Australia favourite Adrian Tamburini as Hades and Elenoa Rokobaro as Persephone (Caroline or Change, tick, tick…BOOM!).
Sarah Murr, Jennifer Trijo and Imani Williams feature as the Fates with the cast also including Afua Adjei, Devon Braithwaite, Molly Bugeja, Joshua Kobeck, Iosefa Laga’aia, Jack Lyall, Jessie Monk, Sam Richardson and Eliza Soriano.
Originating as Anaïs Mitchell’s indie theatre project, along with her artistic collaborator, Rachel Chavkin, Hadestown was transformed into a genre-defying musical that blends modern American folk music, with New Orleans-inspired jazz to reimagine the sweeping ancient tale of Orpheus and Eurydice.
The hit musical also won a Grammy Award for Best Musical Theatre Album.
Following two intertwining love stories — of young dreamers Orpheus and Eurydice, and that of King Hades and his wife Persephone – Hadestown invites audiences on a hell-raising journey to the underworld and back.
Mitchell’s melodies and Chavkin’s imagination pit industry against nature, doubt against faith, and fear against love.
Season Opens May 8
Venue: Her Majesty’s Theatre, 219 Exhibition St, Melbourne
Bookings: hadestown.com.au
Cheryl Threadgold

