BRATTLEBORO-Hadestown: Teen Edition by Anaïs Mitchell, is the Brattleboro Union High School musical, presented Feb. 13–15.
The production is an adaptation of Greek myth. It tells the story of Eurydice, a poor girl who wants something more from life but doesn't quite know how to get it, and a boy, Orpheus, who is trying to finish a song that he believes will change the world for the better. These two wanderers, destined to meet, experience both love and loss.
The musical has a Vermont connection. Singer-songwriter Mitchell grew up in the Vergennes area. Her creation evolved from a community theater project in 2006–07, to a record album in 2010, to a musical opening at London's National Theatre in 2018, to an opening on Broadway in 2019. The show won eight Tony Awards that year.
"When I saw this show for the first time on Broadway, I knew it was a show I wanted to direct at some point," said Rebekah Kersten, director and BUHS teacher of English and Theater. "It grabbed me right away with a compelling story, captivating music, and rich characters. The teen version, recently released by Concord Theatricals, the company that holds the rights, is minimally different from the Broadway version - the only real changes are some vocal ranges to accommodate teen voices, a handful of songs listed as optional, and an alternate lyric or two.
"There's an authenticity to this show that I think is something that we find more in Vermont than elsewhere," Kersten continued. "To have Vermont artistry represented in such a beautiful way on Broadway, and now, bringing it back home to a local audience - it's really special."
Kersten said the singing demands on the performers are increased because this is a sung-through show.
"Even though there are some spoken lines, nearly all of them are in rhythm and spoken over music," she said. "The harmonies are so rich and complex - one song has nine-part harmony, which is really beautiful, but also quite a challenge. The actors need to be able to hear where their parts lie within the chord and pay attention to blend. Another challenge is that so much of this show requires dance, synchronized movement, or a combination of both. Some of the actors have years of dance experience, while others don't. Memorizing the choreography that goes with the aforementioned nine-part harmony is quite a feat."
Alex Aither, a sophomore, plays Eurydice.
"[Eurydice] doesn't trust easily," Aither said. "Time and time again, she's been battered down by the world. The protectiveness she feels is realistic. People can relate. There are parts of ourselves that we really don't want to share with anyone. But she opens up to Orpheus, revealing a loving, emotional person underneath her rough exterior."
As the story unfolds, Aither said, Eurydice begins to doubt Orpheus. Her survival instinct causes her to make a deal with Hades, who offers her a warm, safe place-but she has to die to get there.
"She sings a beautiful ballad, 'Flowers,' " Aither said, "about her piecing together memories of when she was alive and of the love she has for Orpheus."
Aither said acting is the purest form of human art and expression.
"It's an exploration," she said. "You step into the shoes of someone you aren't and can bring yourself into the character. It allows you to discover so much about yourself."
Remy Flood, a junior, portrays Orpheus.
"He's a musician, son of a Muse, who is working on a song that will help bring spring back," Flood said. "He falls in love with Eurydice. They have a special connection. But he is so focused on his song that he loses sight of her problems."
One of the challenges, Flood said, is to make clear to the audience the character's thought process: he is fully dedicated to the task he is working on. It's the most important thing to him, yet he loves Eurydice.
A secondary narrative thread explores the marriage of Hades, ruler of the Underworld, and his wife, Persephone, goddess of spring, who, after being abducted by him and brought to the Underworld, ate six pomegranate seeds. As a result, she must live six months in Hades's realm, during which time the world above experiences winter.
Leo Mousseau, a senior, portrays Hades.
"He's an older man who has lost touch with love," Mousseau said. "Hardened by the world, he's detached and angry. He rules (the Underworld) like a mob boss."
Mousseau said he often plays villains, such as Bill Sikes in Oliver.
"Hades as a villain is more nuanced, more a tragic character than an outright villain," he said. "It's fun to play a complicated character. This is my last BUHS show. I'm glad it's this show."
Indigo Goldman, a sophomore, plays Persephone.
"In the myth behind the story, she is the daughter of Demeter," Goldman said. "She is a carefree goddess who dances in the fields and picks flowers. Hades comes up from the Underworld and makes her his queen for six months of every year. In some versions of the story, she loves him. In Hadestown, her relationship to him has become distant. He is bringing her back underground for longer and longer periods of time. She is very sad and drinks a lot, which is a challenge to portray."
Goldman is in chorus and is part of a band, The Jackets. She's been playing the piano since she was eight. With both acting and making music a huge part of her life, she said musical theater is the perfect outlet for unique expression.
Malika Anthes, also a sophomore, plays the part of Hermes, the messenger god.
"He's the narrator, but he also interacts with the characters," Anthes said. "He exists within their world and outside it. He knows what's going to happen, but he can't change the course of events. At the beginning of the show, he's excited and flamboyant. Toward the end, he's more sad and serious. He knows decisions have been made, yet he holds on to the hope that this time it will be different."
Anthes said the show is about having to make the choice between freedom and security in a world where you can't always have both. The way the show is written, any perceived social commentary is left to the interpretation of the viewer.
"I went to see the show on Broadway," she said, "and I'm a big fan of it."
Accepting a role in Hadestown meant Anthes had to choose acting over ice hockey this year. She notes there are similarities between the two.
"In both, you have a team of people working together," she said. "You put on a costume. You practice and rehearse. Hockey is a lot harder physically, but in theater you have more freedom to interpret a role any way you want, within the director's guidelines."
In Greek myth, the three Fates determine human destiny. They "weave" the events of a person's life. They are Clotho, who spins the thread; Lachesis, who decides the length of the thread; and Atropos, who cuts the thread (death).
Genny Schneski, who plays Fate One, was unavailable at the time of the interview.
Fate Two is played by Lila Armour-Jones, a junior.
"The Fates are all quite similar," she said. "They act as a unit. It's interesting to have three different actors, who are three different characters, act together in sync. They're all-knowing and powerful, yet subtle, with so much control over the story."
Armour-Jones started acting at the age of 10.
"I just love it," she said. "There is such joy and beauty and hope in art and in performing. As part of this community, I get to tell really important stories. This is one of my favorite musicals. I get to do it with so many friends, people I've been acting with for so many years."
AJ Lalanne, a sophomore, plays Fate Three.
"The Fates are very sassy," Lalanne said. "They have a lot of attitude. They keep the story going and keep the characters in check."
This is Lalanne's first musical.
"Music is really a part of my life," he said. "I'm in chorus and band. I've played the flute since fourth grade. The music in this show has all these harmonies, both beautiful and difficult. It's such a cool experience. I'm honored to be part of the musical community."
Kersten wants the audience to be immersed in this story. "As Hermes sings, 'It's an old song. It's a sad song. And we're going to sing it again.' The story is so simple, so familiar, yet it's told in a new way," she said. "The emotional lives of these characters are so complex-nothing is straightforward, even for the workers. I want the audience to be a part of that, to feel how powerful, beautiful, and strong love is. And to remember why it's important. When we trust the people we love, when we trust in love, nothing is impossible. When we stop trusting, when doubt comes in, tragedy and discord follow."
Alexander Brady, BUHS band director, and David Tournoux, music teacher at Putney Central School, are co-musical directors.
Performances of Hadestown: Teen Edition are Feb. 13–15, Thursday and Friday at 7 p.m., Saturday at 2 p.m. in the BUHS auditorium. General admission is $10, students/seniors $5. Free tickets for BUHS students. For ticket information: buhs.wsesdvt.org.
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