June 25, 2022
by jenniferpuryear
The pandemic was grinding us down in the fall of 2020. Or, I should say, it was grinding me down. Things that had been new and secretly good about staying home were losing their shine. Loneliness, that dark flower, grew. And the days grew shorter and colder too. One comfort in that season was the music from the Broadway show “Hadestown”. I’m not sure how …
October 23, 2020
by jenniferpuryear
Dear Bacon Friends, Let’s leave Hadestown tonight. Orpheus has snuck into hell, begging Hades to let his lover Eurydice rejoin him in the world above. Hades laughs – scornful – but Persephone convinces him to give the young lovers another chance. To let Eurydice go. On one condition: Hades requires Orpheus to walk out of hell alone, with Eurydice following. If he looks back, she …
October 22, 2020
by jenniferpuryear
Today, we learn a few things about hell. Is this a political song? You decide… Why do we build the wall? My children, my children – Why do we build the wall? Why do we build the wall? We build the wall to keep us free That’s why we build the wall We build the wall to keep us free How does the wall keep us …
October 18, 2020
by jenniferpuryear
Bacon’s journey to Hadestown wraps up this week in three final installments. One fears things may not end well, and yet – one hopes. As today’s action begins, Orpheus been gone a long time, working on his song. When he finally comes looking for Eurydice, he can’t find her. “Where is she?” he asks Hermes, distraught. Six feet under …
October 17, 2020
by jenniferpuryear
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 …
October 16, 2020
by jenniferpuryear
Is it possible that Hades is a tragic figure, driven by loneliness, jealousy, and doubt? Orpheus imagines Hades as a King of Pain, trapped in the spider web of his own emotions… “He thinks of his wife in the arms of the sun And jealousy fuels him and feeds him and fills him With doubt that she’ll never come – Dread that she’ll never come …
October 14, 2020
by jenniferpuryear
The day comes when Persephone must return to the Underworld, and the train comes to pick her up. “Winter’s nigh and summer’s o’er Hear that high and lonesome sound Of my husband coming for To bring me home to Hadestown…” “That was not six months!” she cries, when he arrives. “I missed you,” said Hades, love in his eyes… She’s not blind to his faults …
October 12, 2020
by jenniferpuryear
Eurydice, with all the love and joy a heart can hold, asks this of Orpheus: promise me that things will always be this way. “I promise,” he says – and I would have believed that boy too. One’s heart breaks for their love, and their youth, and for their belief that anything might stay the same. One must not hold too tightly to anything, I …
October 11, 2020
by jenniferpuryear
It’s hard being married to Hades – we can imagine. Super hard living in the darkness and depths of the Underworld. When Persephone returns to the earth’s surface each year to bring spring, can you blame her for going a little wild? Maybe she should slow down on the vino… but maybe not. “I’ve been to hell and back again But like my mama …
October 10, 2020
by jenniferpuryear
Last night we dreamt of the love of Orpheus and Eurydice. This morning, let’s get the back story on Hades and Persephone. Once upon a time, they loved each other so… Down below and up above In harmony and rhythm The gods sang a song of love And the world sang it with them But that was long ago Before we were on this road… …