This multi Tony Award winning musical has finally landed at Theatre Royal Sydney with an exhilarating opening night on Friday.
The hit musical by Anais Mitchell (music, lyrics and book) brilliantly intertwines two mythic tales – that of young dreamers Orpheus and Eurydice, and that of King Hades and Queen Persephone – as it invites audiences on a mesmerising journey to the underworld and back.
The lead performances were all great triple threats; Christine Anu played a mainly narratorial role as Hermes, Abigail Adriano was a lovely fragile, precious presence as Eurydice, Noah Mullins was a minstrel for the ages as Orpheus, Adrian Tanburini was perfect as the tyrannical Hades and Elenoa Roxobaro was the vivacious, exuberant Persephone who manages to tame her man.
Sarah Murr, Jennifer Trijo and Imani Williams played the three Fates who were like the show’s chorus.
The ensemble cast all made great contributions; Afua Adjei, Devon Braithwaite, Josefa Laga’aia, Sam Richardson, Eliza Soriano, Molly Bugeja, Joshua Kobeck, Jack Lyall and Jessie Monk.
Rachel Chavkin’s direction was first class. Mitchell’s wonderful score was aided by Michael Chorney and Todd Sickafoose’s jazz filled orchestrations. Rachel Hauck’s set design equally referenced music halls and oil rigs, Michael Krass’s vast array ot costumes, Bradley King’s awesome lighting, David Neumann’s breathtaking choreography, and Laura Tipoki’s direction of an excellent band of musicians who were gathered on both sides of the stage.
Audiences go to the big musicals to have a great all round experience and this they certainly get with HADESTOWN which is currently playing the Theatre Royal Sydney.
Photography by Ben Apfelbaum
