ELLY GRIMM

   • Leader & Times

I have made it no secret here about how big a theatre fan I am, and I am one of many who believes theatre should be accessible to everyone possible. Back in July 2020, “Hamilton” began a trend of helping with just that by releasing a pro shot of the production featuring the original Broadway cast for Disney+, and this year has seen the release of pro shots of other hit shows “SIX” and “Hadestown” in select movie theaters.

I was particularly excited to hear about the “Hadestown” release because I’ve heard a lot about it but have yet to actually a production, so when I finally found the pro shot online, I knew I had to watch it and see if it lived up to the hype ... which it TOTALLY did. For those who are unaware, “Hadestown” blends versions of the ancient Greek myths of Orpheus and Eurydice and Hades and Persephone while explore enduring themes of struggle and poverty.

To start off, the cast – which is the original Broadway cast – is absolutely fantastic. Andre De Shields kicks off the show wonderfully as Hermes and makes him sweet and sarcastic and kind of prickly, sometimes all in the same scene. He is the perfect narrator for the story, and it’s almost like he was born for the role. Reeve Carney and Eva Noblezada are also wonderful as Orpheus and Eurydice – they have great chemistry when it comes to both the acting and musical aspects of the show, and they’re both overall unbelievably talented. I’m so glad I got to see their portrayals of these characters in some capacity. Patrick Page and Amber Gray are also great as Hades and Persephone – he’s deep and foreboding and prickly to everyone, and he definitely fits the role, and she’s flirty and feisty and a perfect foil to him. Their best moment comes near the end of Act II when they reconnect with a dance, which is just an overall very sweet scene. Everyone in the ensemble is also extremely talented, and there wasn’t anyone who I thought “WOW, how did THEY get hired?” Overall, it was great to see an original Broadway cast in this way.

The overall production is also very well done. The music and songs are absolutely fantastic throughout, and there are multiple musical influences heard throughout the show, which is great. The lighting is also incredible throughout, especially near the end, and there are so many cool lighting moments that really show off the team’s creativity. The costumes on everyone are also so well done, with my favorite being Amber Gray’s two dresses, which are identical save for the color depending on when she’s in the Underworld and when she’s aboveground. The set design was also neat to look at, and I loved the multiple turntables used as the story went on. Seeing this pro shot makes me want to see a live production some day. Overall, the creative team did a great job with the overall production design.

The quality of the pro shot is also very good. The creative team definitely knew how they wanted everything to look, and they did a great job making everything look as cinematic as possible, and the end result is absolutely stunning. With the different camera angles and other cinematographic choices used, the pro shot was actually pretty comparable to watching the live show, which was great. Every shot is so crisp and clear, and I definitely wish I’d been able to find a movie theater somewhere and watch this. Overall, I felt like it was a great choice to turn “Hadestown” into a pro shot movie, and since it saw a fair amount of success, I hope other shows will do the same as time goes on.

Overall, I very much enjoyed finally seeing a production of “Hadestown” and would give the pro shot a solid “A” grade. The cast is absolutely fantastic all the way from the leads to the ensemble, and there’s absolutely no one who’s just phoning it in. The overall production was very good, especially when it came to the music and set design, and the pro shot definitely captured that very, very well because the creative team definitely knew what they wanted. If you’re a fan of musicals, or “Hadestown” in general, the pro shot is definitely one to cue up.