Sam

I lwk don’t get why anyone hates on ma boi Reeve Carney. The amount of passion and characterization he put into the role of Orpheus is just on a whole other level 💖

For starters, the entire Original Broadway cast of Hadestown is incredibly talented, and they all have very distinct voices that add so much personality and depth to their characters, but you can tell with the entirety of the main cast that they all still have that Broadway sound. While their voices are unique, they still feel very musical theatre. But Reeve Carney’s voice doesn’t feel like something I would expect to hear in a Broadway musical, it’s sits more in that folk-rock timbre. And while I don’t think it would work for other roles on Broadway (see his run in Great Gatsby — that I was admittedly not a fan of) I think it actually works really well for Orpheus. Orpheus is the son of a muse. His voice has been blessed by the Gods themselves, and in a cast of incredibly talented people, Orpheus should stand out vocally. The colour and timbre of Reeve Carney’s voice is very distinct from the rest of his cast, and provides such a stark contrast to the rest of the world around them, which sits at this intersection between your typical Broadway sound and jazz.

While I love many of the other (Orpheuses? Orphei? Whats the plural of Orpheus?) I feel that when Orpheus is singing with that typical Broadway or BFA sound, as beautiful as it might sound, that contrast that makes Orpheus stand out so much from the rest of the world around him is lost. Vocally and technically it’s a beautiful performance, yes, but I personally feel like the impact of Orpheus is lost when he sounds like the rest of his cast. Again, not a dig on anyone who’s played Orpheus, they’re all very talented. This is just my opinion.

I’m not saying that you have to love Reeve Carney’s voice. After all, art is subjective, everyone has different tastes, and Reeve Carney’s voice does have a very unique sound to it that might not sit well with everyone, especially musical theatre fans who are more familiar to a certain kind of sound. But there’s a difference between not caring for someone’s voice and actively putting them down every time you get the chance to. Reeve Carney’s portrayal as Orpheus had a huge impact on the show, whether you like it or not.

Singha: So the other day I sent Thup out to get us some fuel

Singha: And instead of getting fuel, he got us novelty cookie cutters

Singha: Now everything we eat is shaped like a dinosaur

Singha:

Whereas most shows would treat this as a romantic moment, when Singha discovers the real reason for King's actions, here it completely severs the bond for good.

And it's done so well.

Because at this point we know Singha, we know how seriously he takes his role as protector. He is most haunted by those he failed to protect - his sister, the suspect who died. This isn't just an inclination for him - it's a critical piece of his identity. This isn't about being a cop, being a cop is just a way for him to leverage his need to take care of people. His ability to fight for those who can't fight for themselves, to take on the forces that threaten harm, is everything to him.

And King proves that he never saw any of that right here.

Because Singha would die for what he loves, but it's not the work, it's never been the work - it's protecting people, especially those he cares about.

And the look on his face when Singha realizes...for all his talk of love, King understands nothing about him. He never did.

This confession gives Singha the closure he needs, because he is able to fully see that yes, King cared for him - but he never truly saw him as a real partner, either in life or in work.

It's such a fantastic contrast to Singha's relationship with Thup, and shows even more why they work together. Because Thup babies him, yes (and it's adorable), but he doesn't infantilize him. It's such a vital distinction. Thup trusts him, tells him everything, holds nothing back, while also openly relying on Singha's care and protection, which Singha needs to feel like an equal in the relationship.