STPRYLINE: A musical juxtaposition of the Orpheus/Eurydice and Hades/Persephone myths that examines the way real life can impact our quest for a perfect world. (imdb)

       What does Rent, Dr Jekyll  & Mr Hyde: The Musical, Hamilton, Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet St, and Waitress – The Musical all have in common?  They are all plays that have been filmed, and presented as a play, to audiences at home, instead of a live theater. In fact, with the expectation of Hamilton, I have a copy of each on the shelves of my library.  The lack of a physical copy of Hamilton is not due to lack of availability, but I have not gotten it, but that’s irrelevant.  Hadestown: The Musical is now the latest play to receive the filmed to exhibition treatment, for audiences, outside a live theater experience.

     Personally, I am nit a fan of live entertainment.  I don’t enjoy sitting through live stage plays, and  can not stand being in attendance at a concert. The exception to this is I enjoy going to see the VERY rare stand comic perform live.  In my heart, I am a movie guy, always at the theater or on physical media, never streaming unless it’s the last, and desperate resort. I am kinda old school like that. So, when these filmed plays arrive on the marquee, I grab my  artificially buttered popcorn, and look up at my preferred method of entertainment, from the comfort of my customary seat.

    Walking into Hadestown: The Musical, I knew nothing of what I was about to see, beyond it is a play, and it is a musical.  The trailer I semi watched before recent repertory screening of Taxi Driver (1976), as well as the recent release Romeria, didn’t tell me much of the plot. I did however, enjoy the snippets of music I had listened to.

   Hadestown: The Musical kept my attention. for the two and a half hours it ran. The love story was the main focus. What intrigued was how Greek mythology was worked into the production.  After seeing Christopher Nolan’s, far superior, sweeping epic adaptation of The Odyssey a week prior, made this was a nice companion piece.

    Most musicals I am accustomed to viewing feature a balance of speaking dialogue and musical performances.  Hadestown: The Musical musical performances from start to finish, with rate exception of an onstage narrator.  The performances ranged in scale, from small to elaborate.  

    Combing the visual aspects of the performances with the music coming at me from the surround sound of the cinema speakers, it’s another prime example of experiencing a movie on the big screen.  

   Being able to see filmed plays, such asHadestown: The Musical, on the big screen is more my style.  Tgis was one I knew nothing about going in, abd walked out with the knowledge of its quality songs, production numbers, and it’s integration of Greek mythology.

   Until next time, I will see you at the movies!