UPDATE
I thoroughly enjoyed seeing Hadestown on Saturday, June 7, so I decided to see the production one more time before it ended. With three different casts to choose from, I intentionally chose to see a different cast the second time so that I could experience the breadth of talent that Jaks Theatre Company offers. I was fortunate to purchase one of the last remaining tickets to the matinee on Friday, June 13. The Fate Cast took the stage and wowed me with its performance, warranting an update to my original review.
The Fate Cast brought additional nuances to the character portrayals and storytelling that deserve highlighting.
- Coleman Hall as Hermes – He brought exceptional energy, precise enunciation, and deliberate pacing to his portrayal of the narrator, moving easily between spoken and sung sections of storytelling and leaning in to the Southern dialect. He absolutely rocked the house in “Road to Hell” and “Way Down Hadestown!” Approaching “Road to Hell (Reprise)” at the end of the show, he was noticeably emotional (moved by the show’s narrative) and working to channel that emotion into a sensitive and poised rendition of the reprise, which he and his castmates accomplished beautifully.
- Eliza Taylor as Eurydice – Taylor tempered a strong singing voice with warm vibrato, rich low notes, and intentional phrasing that made her story come to life. She delivered impactful renditions of “Any Way the Wind Blows” and “All I’ve Ever Known” as well as an extremely poignant performance of “Flowers.”
- Isaac Dabb as Orpheus – The role of Orpheus requires a vocalist to sing consistently at the high end of the tenor range as well as in a strong falsetto, which is a challenging task. Dabb met this challenge, and he moved into a strong mixed voice when the part required it. He performed “Wait for Me” toward the end of Act I with memorable energy and passion.
- Abby Mertlich as Persephone – Mertlich played Persephone as fun and feisty, but she added emotional depth that showed the character’s tenderness and sensitivity to the events happening around her. This came through in a softer tone at critical moments in her singing and her facial expressions as she realized how Hades was treating his workers.
I am happy to have found Jaks Theatre Company, and while their production of Hadestown has ended, I look forward to seeing what they do next! Click here for information about upcoming productions.
ORIGINAL REVIEW
Last weekend, I wanted to venture out to see a show of some kind, but I didn’t have specific plans. I opened the arttix.org app to see what was playing, and Jaks Theatre Company’s production of Hadestown was at the top of the list. I hadn’t seen Hadestown before, but I knew that friends loved it, nor was I familiar with Jaks Theatre Company, a youth musical theatre company that develops talent in dance, voice, and acting. I took a chance and purchased a ticket to Saturday night’s performance. I found a compelling, emotionally mature portrayal of an extremely thought-provoking story.
Set in a post-apocalyptic, industrial world reminiscent of the Great Depression, with a score inspired by New Orleans jazz and blues, Hadestown reimagines the Greek myth of Orpheus and Eurydice, weaving their tale with that of Hades and Persephone. Hermes (Zachary Hayward) introduces the key characters and narrates the action. Eurydice (Elsha MacKay) and the three Fates (Hannah Clark, Gabriella Hayward, Allyson Moody) describe the harsh weather and famine that cause everyone great hardship. Orpheus (Collin Anderson), a poor but talented poet and musician, meets Eurydice and asks her to marry him. Eurydice hesitates because she knows they will suffer in poverty, but Orpheus promises to write a song that will make springtime return and eliminate their suffering. Persephone (Stella Chappell) arrives from the underworld to celebrate summertime, and Eurydice’s concerns dissipate as she falls in love with Orpheus. Hades (Colin West) arrives early to collect Persephone, who laments going back to Hadestown, and winter returns to the world above. Experiencing another round of famine and desperation, Eurydice simultaneously pleads with Orpheus to finish his song and listens to the Fates praising the protection Hadestown offers, despite the merciless, never-ending labor its factory workers endure. Disgruntled with Persephone after a fight, Hades arrives above ground to find someone new who will appreciate the safety and security the world he has created provides. He meets Eurydice and invites her to follow him to Hadestown. She agrees, desperate to alleviate her suffering. Realizing that Eurydice has disappeared, Orpheus follows her into the underworld and strives to bring her back.
Dystopian stories hold up a mirror that reflect problems happening in the real world, and they act as cautionary tales about the detrimental effects of allowing humanity’s darker tendencies to prevail. Hadestown explores the tension between a world running on self-interest, greed, industrialization, exploitation of people and resources and one moved by love, care for others, and protecting the natural world. Doubt and desperation repeatedly threaten hope and faith, and the admonition seems to be, while not realized in the course of the narrative, that looking forward with trust — not looking back — is the way out of a dystopian hell.
Jaks Theatre Company has three separate casts for Hadestown — named Fate, Love, and Power — that alternate performing on different dates. I saw the Love Cast on Saturday night, and they delivered a dynamic performance that demonstrated incredible preparation and professionalism from young artists. Zachary Hayward is a charismatic and suave Hermes with noteworthy moments of bending notes to convey a Southern dialect throughout his narration. Elsha MacKay has a powerful singing voice that effectively portrays Eurydice’s range of emotions including desperation, love, and doubt. Stella Chappell also has a powerful voice and a feisty, carefree personality that are perfect for Persephone. She lets loose on stage, making Persephone both fun-loving (“Livin’ It Up on Top”) and soulful (“Our Lady of the Underground”). She captures the essence of singing jazz and blues. Colin West has a unique vocal quality — a little bit of gravel, almost a vocal fry — that makes Hades sound delightfully sinister. Hannah Clark, Gabriella Hayward, and Allyson Moody are stunning as the Fates, both visually with silver and black costumes and vocally with stirring harmonies. Their vocal abilities shine in their a capella singing of “Nothing Changes” in Act II. A remarkable chorus supports the lead actors with strong vocals and effective choreography that fits well in the small space of the black box theatre. “Why We Build the Wall” is a particularly powerful number. An ensemble of young musicians play the music live on stage, which I found to be particularly exceptional because it can be tough to find student musicians of high enough caliber to perform a Broadway score. This ensemble delivers — especially Dylan Thomas on guitar, Simon Parnell on piano, and Jacob Stoddard on double bass. These three anchor the group and create the rhythm that moves the jazz and blues narrative forward.
Jaks Theatre Company’s production of Hadestown is not to be missed! I venture to say that it would be a high quality experience whichever of the three casts you happen to see. I highly recommend purchasing a ticket to one of the remaining performances. Performances run through Saturday, June 14, 2025. Click here for information and tickets.
The Good Life 
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