Review: 'Hadestown' makes the highway to hell a thrilling ride

The road to hell is paved with good intentions.

That journey, and the desire to find greener pastures, is detailed in “Hadestown,” a modern, musical retelling of the Greek myths of Orpheus and Eurydice and Hades and Persephone, which is on stage at the Kravis Center in West Palm Beach through Sunday.

“Hadestown” was written by Anaïs Mitchell and developed and directed by Rachel Chavkin. It won eight Tony Awards, including Best Musical, in 2019.

Mitchell blends the separate myths of two sets of lovers to form a cohesive story about the intricacies of love and the perils of climate change.

The story is narrated by Hermes (Nathan Lee Graham) portrayed here as the main denizen of a French Quarter-style club. Eurydice (Hannah Whitley), who is beautiful, pragmatic and hungry, wanders in looking for something to eat. Orpheus (Chibueze Ihuoma), a poet, musician and singer, falls in love with Eurydice the moment he sees her. While she’s charmed by him, they’re both poor and, because of their poverty, she’s skeptical about their future together. Her desire to escape her circumstances makes her an easy mark for Hades (Matthew Patrick Quinn), god of the underworld.

Hades only gets to be with his wife Persephone (Brit West) for half of the year, and that annual estrangement has made him bitter and cruel. Hades wants a distraction, and tempts Eurydice with the promise of a good, protected life working in his stark, underground factory. She signs his contract, a move she regrets almost as soon as the bargain is made. But Orpheus concocts a plan to rescue Eurydice and melt Hades’ heart in the process.

Mitchell’s lyrics and score are bluesy and jazzy, befitting its New Orleans flavor, and bounces from rousing to ethereal to ominous. David Neumann’s choreography is alternately buoyant and chillingly modern. Bradley King’s lighting captures the various romantic and demonic moods, and his train effects are especially impressive.

Graham makes a charming narrator, and his opening number, “Road to Hell,” is a showstopper. Whitley and Ihuoma are convincing as the young lovers, but their story is overshadowed by Quinn and West, who are standouts individually but also possess smoldering chemistry, making their duet “How Long?” one of the highlights of show. West kicks off the second act in dynamic fashion with “Our Lady of the Underground.” Quinn, with his rich, sonorous voice, steals the show with his big numbers, “Why We Build the Wall” and “His Kiss, The Riot.”

“Hadestown” makes the trip to hell and back a thrilling, emotional, and satisfying adventure.

*

IF YOU GO

“Hadestown” runs through Jan. 8, at Kravis Center, 701 Okeechobee Blvd., West Palm Beach. For tickets and information, call 561-832-7469 or visit KravisCenter.org

This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Daily News: Review: 'Hadestown' makes trip to hell and back a satisfying adventure