To save Eurydice from eternal strife, Orpheus must travel into the underworld – the dreary and hopeless Hadestown – where work is a grind and modern conveniences are provided by an angry, all-seeing god. This concept of a cycle is one that we see repeated in “Hadestown” to dramatic effect. Hades brings her back to the underworld in the fall and the world turns cold for the winter. Her time spent above ground brings prosperity to the world but advances the darkness below. We also witness the tempestuous relationship between Hades and Persephone. He falls in love with Eurydice, who likewise has nothing but is drawn to Orpheus’ optimism and enthusiasm. Orpheus is a poor dreamer who happens to be very good at making music. The musical weaves together two mythological love stories. The production onstage now is part of the show’s first national tour, meaning it’s a big get for Fayetteville. At the subsequent Tony Awards ceremony, it took home eight victories, including those for Best Musical and Best Original Score. It debuted in Vermont in 2006 before finding its way to Broadway in 2019. Penned by folk songwriter Anais Mitchell, “Hadestown” took a circuitous path to Broadway. Those who attended made the choice to see a musical that arrives in Fayetteville to much acclaim.
If the current venue drama impacted attendance, it didn’t impact it significantly. It’s possible some WAC patrons opted out of attending altogether, and there were empty seats in my proximity during Tuesday night’s opening performance.
You might have thought it possible to walk into the Walton Arts Center – with tickets purchased months ago in anticipation of this highly regarded musical – and walk away without having to contemplate the ongoing situation. But live theater does not happen in a vacuum, and one of the reasons we are drawn to artistic expression in the first place is because it gives us insight into our current lived experience. This is a review of a live theater event. And nine Walton Arts Center board members have resigned as a result of the decision and the ongoing tensions. There was a protest outside the venue on Saturday (May 20). But the community discussions are continuing. In response, the organization said it offered financial support to help secure another venue to host the Pride event. In the wake of pulling support for an upcoming Pride event at the venue while citing safety concerns for the community and its staff members, the longstanding arts organization has received backlash from the LGBTQ community and its supporters. The Walton Arts Center in Fayetteville, which is hosting the musical for seven more shows through Sunday afternoon, finds itself in a fight right now, both internally and externally.
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