Walking into Benjamin Hall, for a play based on Greek mythology, one would expect marble columns, statues, and olive trees. Instead, when the Benjamin blue curtains rose, the cavernous stage was transformed into a dilapidated, dark train station. Immediately, the audience is transported into a world where the concepts of loyalty, friendship, and love are reflected in the harsh reality of the human experience.
This year, the Benjamin Theater Company chose Hadestown: Teen Edition, a musical written by Anaïs Mitchell, as its spring performance. Directed by Mr. Jason Peck with the assistance of his wife, Mrs. Alana Peck, this musical is an adaptation of the classic story of Orpheus (senior David Frear) and Eurydice (senior Sage Sorenson), but with a modern feel. Narrated by Hermes (freshman Harrison Poulakakos), the story takes place in a train station to the underworld. Orpheus works at the station while also trying to create a song that will bring back spring. Eurydice is a traveler who is brought to him, possibly by fate. The story continues with their trip to Hades and their bargain with the Lord of the Underworld to escape. Although the plotline sticks primarily to the events of the myth, Hadestown is a tale with several unique and creative twists.
To begin, the set was incredibly well-built. The scaffolding, signs, and run-down feel of the stage truly made everything feel alive. The lighting and rotating floor also added to the dramatic effects. The costumes were also not lacking creativity, with lots of different textures and fitting colors being used for the characters. My favorite costumes were worn by senior Liv Caiazzo’s Persephone, as they changed based on what season was being portrayed during the scene. All of these added elements only helped highlight the acting and singing.
Caroline Welke, a junior and audience member was blown away by the set, “It was really detailed and intricate. It fit the play very well and the rotating platform was a super impressive surprise.”
The acting was also top-tier. Both Sorenson and Frear, two Benjamin theater veterans, played their roles incredibly well. Their chemistry, passion, and raw emotion made them take up the identities of their characters incredibly well. Caiazzo was not only able to play the miserable wife of Hades (Tucker Smith) but also incorporated the written elements of alcoholism in an effective but not overdone way. Smith emoted the complexity of passion, power, and love in a very natural way, adding to the feeling of authenticity coming from the actors. Poulakakos was the glue of the entire production, explaining the story well and enunciating it in a way that kept the attention of the audience. The ensemble and Fates (Isabella Giovanni, Ilia Peck, and Ava Shawe) simply added to the already incredible theatrics, with their quick remarks and attitudes allowing the musical to feel even more real.
Junior Kate Quinlivan was also very impressed with the performance, expressing, “In the past, I haven’t gone to too many school plays, but there was a lot of talk about Hadestown and I wanted to see it. I didn’t know too much about the story itself but they did such a great job and it was really easy to understand the story and what was happening.”
The singing was also a highlight of the performance. Sorenson brought her iconic, Broadway-feeling voice to the stage, bringing viewers to tears. Frear also had some very strong songs, and his guitar playing only added to the experience. Smith incorporated his background in rock and jazz into his character, allowing for a very unique voice. Caiazzo and Pulakakos left nothing to be desired, as their singing was always on point. The voices of the ensemble meshed very well together, though the harmonies of the three Fates could have been more in sync. The band and musicians, conducted by musical director Ransom Miller, were up to the standard of the actors and played every piece almost to perfection.
“I feel I didn’t know that a lot of the actors could sing, so it was amazing to see them play their roles. All of their voices fit together well and made the acting that much better,” expressed junior Madison Jayson.
Hadestown: Teen Edition was certainly a hit with the Benjamin community. Overall, the acting, singing, and props worked well together to tell a very captivating and complex story. It was great to see new actors and returning actors on the stage, doing what they love.
“The play was so good. All of the actors’ voices fit the play so well. I could tell everyone put so much time and effort into their performance and really wanted to show that off,” shared Welke.
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