Reviews: Hadestown: Teen Edition at St. Stephen’s and St. Agnes School
Written by Iza Piatkowski of Woodgrove High School
Headlamps cast golden beams of light across the stage. Workers in tattered overalls step in unison, marching to rhythem set by a band of costumed musicians. Distantly, a train whistle shrills, and, above them all, a man dressed in black keeps a watchful eye over his kingdom. All aboard for the St. Stephen's and St. Agnes production of "Hadestown: Teen Edition."
"Hadestown: Teen Edition" revisits the tragedy of Orpheus and Eurydice, imagining the underworld as an industrial hellscape ruled by Hades and his trapped wife, Persephone. Orpheus, a talented musician convinced he can save the world with a song, falls head over heels for Eurydice, a young woman searching for security amid poverty and hardship. Eurydice is drawn to Orpheus' relentless optimism, but ultimately feels forced to trade her freedom for safety, resulting in her signing a contract to work in the underworld. In a story of love, hope, resilience, and loss, Orpheus ventures into the underworld to find the woman he loves.
Sophia Stine portrayed Eurydice as a guarded, hungry girl, desperate to escape her impoverished circumstances. Through nuanced facial expressions and a stunning voice, Stine created a guarded and authentically human character whose journey through love was both romantic and devastating. Complementing Stine's Eurydice was Charles McElwain as Orpheus, whose acting truly captured the naivety and earnestness of the character. From climbing and balancing on the theatre's railings on his journey to Eurydice to the final turn that seals the couple's fate, McElwain's physicality sold his character's odyssey.
Aden Wright as Hades and Elliott Desautels as Persephone gave standout performances, commanding attention the moment they stepped on stage. Wright's haunting deep voice and commanding presence made his Hades a figure of palpable dread, intensifying the ominous atmosphere of his industrial kingdom. Desautels' performance was full of power. With polished dancing and a voice built for folk music, Desautels dazzled in every song she sang, presenting a warm and happy Persephone in the overworld and a more resigned, jaded one in her husband's kingdom.
The costuming team, led by Indira Brown, Cate Nickson, and Ellery Johnson, embraced a creative Western-inspired aesthetic, outfitting Hades in a pitch black cowboy hat and Eurydice in cowboy boots. Their expertise shone in the small details, from Eurydice's fingerless gloves to Persephone's high heels, adorned with intricate snake designs winding up her ankles. After extensive research on miners’ attire, the team undertook the challenge of sandpapering, painting, dyeing, and distressing 50 costume pieces, fully immersing the audience in the cruel realities of the underworld.
Additionally, the lighting team took on the daunting task of designing 684 lighting cues. Despite losing a week of programming, the team, led by Wyatt Stanton, Arleigh Womack, and M.E. Call, persevered, crafting lighting effects that heightened the emotional impact of each song. A highlight of their design was the projection of red jail bars over The Workers, visually reinforcing their entrapment in an endless cycle of thankless labor.
Through the performances of talented actors and a hard-working crew, St. Stephen's and St. Agnes showcased the power of art and music — not just through the story itself, but through their impressive execution.
Written by Alden Walcott of South Lakes High School
Even in the darkest of times, love can break the chains that tie us to our fate. With a stirring mix of resilience, faith, and a little mythology, St. Stephen's and St. Agnes's production of Hadestown: Teen Edition takes us on an epic journey showcasing the strength of the human spirit.
A reimagining of the Greek myth of Orpheus and Eurydice, Hadestown tells the story of the lovers, torn apart when Eurydice is driven by desperation to make a deal with Hades to remain in the underworld forever — seeking stability, but at a cost. Heartbroken Orpheus pursues her to the literal ends of the earth, clinging to the hope that he can sing a song beautiful enough to win her freedom. Though his quest ultimately fails, the epic tale of their love touches those around them.
Like all epic journeys, Hadestown had an unlikely beginning. Originally conceived as a folk-rock album by singer-songwriter Anaïs Mitchell, it was later adapted into a musical theater production, earning acclaim for its haunting blend of jazz, soul, and rock. Hadestown, with book, music and lyrics by Anaïs Mitchell, premiered on Broadway in 2019 and captured eight Tony Awards, including Best New Musical.
Charles McElwain’s Orpheus was heart-wrenchingly earnest, his youthful naïveté cutting through the bleakness of the underworld. His clear, resonant vocals enhanced Orpheus’s optimism, while his energentic, yearning physicality brought the character to life. McElwain made Orpheus a hero not through success, but through the purity of his intent, drawing audiences into his journey. While his skillful falsetto captivated audiences, it was his palpable connection with Eurydice (Sophia Stine) that drove the narrative, bringing to life a love story both passionate and heartbreaking. With fiery energy, haunting vocals, and a potent mix of frustration and longing, Stine's Eurydice personified the choice between survival and love, leaving audiences to reflect on the importance of both.
Every epic hero needs a foil, and as Orpheus’s adversary, Hades (Aden Wright) was an indomitable force. With a towering presence and a thunderous vocal range, Wright’s Hades commanded the depths of hell with meance, yet allowed just enough vulnerability to reveal his lingering love for Persephone (Elliot Desautels). While Hades was insistent on "build[ing] a wall to keep us free," Persephone's sultry, velvety voice and New Orleans-inspired melodies kept the party going, offering a fleeting escape from the underworld’s despair.
The otherworldly menace of Hadestown was brought to life by the outstanding contributions of the technical elements. The jazzy yet sorrowful tones conveyed by The Hadestown Band eloquently differentiated the underworld from the upper world, reminding the audience that these worlds remain intertwined. The controlled, effortless riffs of the resonant trombone (adeptly played by Tawon Figaro) left the audience speechless, underscoring the relentless toil of foundry labor. Working in tandem with the music was the creative lighting. With 684 lighting cues and four primary spotlights, Wyatt Stanton, Alrleigh Womack, M.E. Call, and the Lights Crew invited audiences to feel the longing of the couples, and also sucked into the fiery underworld. Equally striking was the set (Hadestown Scenic & Properties Team). With four distinct wood-painting techniques and a cleverly designed revolving stage, the set seamlessly merged the industrial harshness of Hadestown with the warmer, earthy tones of the upper world..
St. Stephen's and St. Agnes School's production of Hadestown: Teen Edition reminds us that while love may not conquer all, the world is a better place for its vision.