Callie ☼

I went to a high school performance of Hadestown this weekend (it was fantastic btw, so polished and professional and all the actors, pit, and tech did a marvelous job). The audience was great too, full of applause and enthusiasm after every song. But one of my favorite moments was at the end, when Orpheus turned around. You could hear audible gasps from the audience, and then there was perfect silence for a full minute while the actors transitioned to Road to Hell (Reprise). No scattered applause as sometimes happens when a song ends and the next scene doesn’t immediately begin. No murmurs or whispers. Just silence. And Hermes’ actress milked that silence for all it was worth. She had total control of that silence. It was glorious. I’m sure many people in that auditorium— parents, teachers, supportive community members— showed up that night, not knowing the myth of Orpheus and Eurydice. My mother-in-law certainly didn’t, sitting just a few seats down from me. And that collective gasp, followed by heavy silence is exactly what it’s all about. That’s the whole point— it’s a sad song. It’s a sad tale, it’s a tragedy. But we sing it anyway.

Lord of the Flies but they’re all theatre kids.

gang has never heard of flies the musical

jack merridew got suspended a week before christmas because he sharpened a candy cane and stabbed someone with it. btw