Eurydice waits patiently for her lover Orpheus to finish writing his song, a song of beauty beyond measure that will transform the world with its light and love. She waits as patiently as she is able. And yet – she’s cold, and hungry, and lonely. Orpheus is gone. That’s when Eurydice hears the song of Hades.
Patrick Page’s performance as Hades is absolutely chilling, particularly in this brilliant and horrible seduction…
Eurydice’s response may make you weep…
Strange is the call of this strange man
I want to fly down and feed at his hand
I want a nice soft place to land
I want to lie down forever
[Hades:]
Hey, little songbird, you got something fine
You’d shine like a diamond down in the mine
And the choice is yours if you’re willing to choose
Seeing as you’ve got nothing to lose
And I could use a canary
[Eurydice:]
Suddenly nothing is as it was
Where are you now, Orpheus?
Wasn’t it gonna be the two of us
Weren’t we birds of a feather?
[Hades:]
Hey, little songbird, let me guess
He’s some kind of poet and he’s penniless?
Give him your hand, he’ll give you his hand-to-mouth
He’ll write you a poem when the power’s out
Hey, why not fly south for the winter?
Hey, little songbird, look all around you
See how the vipers and vultures surround you
They’ll take you down, they’ll pick you clean
If you stick around such a desperate scene
See, people get mean when the chips are down…
Haunting, timely and beautiful all at the same time. Thank you Jennifer!