Happy birthday Leah! Wishing you a restful and celebratory day (a very difficult combination to pull off for moms of little ones!)
With respect to the Odyssey, I really enjoyed it but I thought it was a very (for lack of a better word) godless telling. Zeus was invoked frequently but never shown, Poseidon was infrequently mentioned, Calypso was not portrayed as particularly powerful, and Athena seemed kind of like a hovering guardian angel rather than the relentless immortal advocate for Odysseus that she is in the poem (and if anyone wants to talk about that Athena/sack of Troy double image with me, I would very much like to hear your takes! My husband and I talked A LOT about that artistic choice on the drive home!) The only immortal that seemed at all powerful was Circe! I did like the bow-stringing bit though, and I thought the ending was particularly well done. Regret seems like a particularly un-heroic emotion in this version of the ancient world, and the fact that Odysseus came to regret some of his choices was fascinating to me, and tied the whole thing together in a way that I wasn't really expecting. I look forward to hearing thoughts from others, it is definitely a movie that rewards kibitzing!
I’ve seen Hadestown four times on Broadway (perks of living in New York City haha), and it really does never get old. I’m always ready to hear sung again. It made me so happy to see you plugging it—I’m excited that this movie is going to make it possible for a lot more people to experience it. I hope your kids have a blast!!
"Not every choice is perfect, but the stakes are low—you know the story is immortal and people will keep telling and re-telling it." Most opinions on The Odyssey that I've read have taken the opposite stance—that as such an old story, the stakes are high to get it exactly right. But I love the way you said this, and I think it's true. It's just not possible to "ruin" a story this old and enduring. I too have my "grudges" but the more I've dwelt on this movie, the more I love Nolan's retelling for being exactly what it is.
Anyway, thanks for sharing this perspective. It was more helpful and clarifying than many a lengthier review!
Here's hoping we get at least two more Odysseys in our lifetimes! (I'd be fascinated if Robert Eggers did one, but I'd have my husband see it first and tell me if I want to see it)
Hadestown is on my top three "modern" musicals, along with "Come From Away" and "Hamilton". I adore it. The music is exquisite, and the epic battle of Orpheus with himself is what I love about great art - the reflection in yourself and fodder for conversation.
My husband went to see The Odyssey by himself Sunday b/c I can't sit in a theater for that long, but I will watch it eventually. I love the poem.
I was reluctant to see Come From Away because I thought it would be too schmaltzy. But it's really grounded in the particularities of the people they interviewed (and composited) and I loved it.
I'm going to host a viewing of the pro-shot for the 25th anniversary of 9/11.
If you liked Hadestown, I commend to your attention Live from Mount Olympus, a Greek mythology podcast for kids that features the same actor as Hermes who originated the role in Hadestown on Broadway!
Luc Besson's masterpiece The Fifth Element is *also* in theatres this weekend for an anniversary rerelease, so people have the opportunity for a ridiculous double feature.
Haven’t seen the movie yet but have you read “An Odyssey, a father, a son, and an epic”? by Daniel Mendelsohn. Has a great tie in to the bed, but a great book overall for anyone who has a parent (how well can we ever know our parents?)
Wishbone!!
Happy birthday Leah! Wishing you a restful and celebratory day (a very difficult combination to pull off for moms of little ones!)
With respect to the Odyssey, I really enjoyed it but I thought it was a very (for lack of a better word) godless telling. Zeus was invoked frequently but never shown, Poseidon was infrequently mentioned, Calypso was not portrayed as particularly powerful, and Athena seemed kind of like a hovering guardian angel rather than the relentless immortal advocate for Odysseus that she is in the poem (and if anyone wants to talk about that Athena/sack of Troy double image with me, I would very much like to hear your takes! My husband and I talked A LOT about that artistic choice on the drive home!) The only immortal that seemed at all powerful was Circe! I did like the bow-stringing bit though, and I thought the ending was particularly well done. Regret seems like a particularly un-heroic emotion in this version of the ancient world, and the fact that Odysseus came to regret some of his choices was fascinating to me, and tied the whole thing together in a way that I wasn't really expecting. I look forward to hearing thoughts from others, it is definitely a movie that rewards kibitzing!
I'd agree with this!
I’ve seen Hadestown four times on Broadway (perks of living in New York City haha), and it really does never get old. I’m always ready to hear sung again. It made me so happy to see you plugging it—I’m excited that this movie is going to make it possible for a lot more people to experience it. I hope your kids have a blast!!
"Not every choice is perfect, but the stakes are low—you know the story is immortal and people will keep telling and re-telling it." Most opinions on The Odyssey that I've read have taken the opposite stance—that as such an old story, the stakes are high to get it exactly right. But I love the way you said this, and I think it's true. It's just not possible to "ruin" a story this old and enduring. I too have my "grudges" but the more I've dwelt on this movie, the more I love Nolan's retelling for being exactly what it is.
Anyway, thanks for sharing this perspective. It was more helpful and clarifying than many a lengthier review!
Here's hoping we get at least two more Odysseys in our lifetimes! (I'd be fascinated if Robert Eggers did one, but I'd have my husband see it first and tell me if I want to see it)
Hadestown is on my top three "modern" musicals, along with "Come From Away" and "Hamilton". I adore it. The music is exquisite, and the epic battle of Orpheus with himself is what I love about great art - the reflection in yourself and fodder for conversation.
My husband went to see The Odyssey by himself Sunday b/c I can't sit in a theater for that long, but I will watch it eventually. I love the poem.
I was reluctant to see Come From Away because I thought it would be too schmaltzy. But it's really grounded in the particularities of the people they interviewed (and composited) and I loved it.
I'm going to host a viewing of the pro-shot for the 25th anniversary of 9/11.
If you liked Hadestown, I commend to your attention Live from Mount Olympus, a Greek mythology podcast for kids that features the same actor as Hermes who originated the role in Hadestown on Broadway!
oooh!
Luc Besson's masterpiece The Fifth Element is *also* in theatres this weekend for an anniversary rerelease, so people have the opportunity for a ridiculous double feature.
Haven’t seen the movie yet but have you read “An Odyssey, a father, a son, and an epic”? by Daniel Mendelsohn. Has a great tie in to the bed, but a great book overall for anyone who has a parent (how well can we ever know our parents?)
It's SPECTACULAR. The year it came out, we got it for every Dad in the family.
Happy belated birthday!
Is Hadestown a play that suitable for older kids? I’m thinking 12+.
Absolutely! We brought our 6.5yo (she'd heard the cast album repeatedly)
Happy belated birthday, Leah!