Over the past decade, few Broadway musicals have been released to as much acclaim as Hadestown. The modernization of the Orpheus & Eurydice mythology comes with an impressive songbook that has kept fans singing ever since. Now that it's touring, the Tony-winning show has developed a legacy that will hopefully be passed on for generations to come. Still, to think that Hadestown was an overnight success is to miss the decade of time it took to get there. Along with various stagings, Anais Mitchell even released it as a concept and later live album with various versions. This isn't a story that came fully formed, and "Working on a Song" does a fantastic job of showing how the effort to keep improving the show until it finally all made sense is the most important thing in the world. For fans of the show, this is an essential read that helps to enhance the lore of a show that is likely to only continue growing.
The idea for Hadestown wasn't entirely what it would become. Even the outline of its origin aren't directly reflected in a straight line. By going song by song, Mitchell observes how each of the tracks have evolved from the very beginning. Some would come later and others had several different edits that greatly changed the lyrical form. What makes everything more interesting is Mitchell's willingness to admit when she wasn't right and even gives credit to various collaborators who helped to make the show better. It becomes a real sense of community by the end, where the real lesson is being willing to listen to criticism and to kill your darlings if something isn't working. While she's not happy with every change made in Hadestown, her acceptance of what would become the final version is a great underlying theme throughout her commentary and something that makes every song a lot more impressive.
While there's other ways to have read the lyrics, it's also a great chance to really break down every line and find the genius in each stanza. Despite the amount of repetition, there's a lot of wordplay and rhymes that become more impressive when focused upon. When placed in the context of Mitchell changing them several times, it becomes clear that great ideas aren't always the best for a story. Still, if Hadestown proves anything, it's that staying passionate about something will eventually lead to greater success. There's a chance that it will find its voice and reach an audience greater than one would think. Don't stop simply because you think it has a satisfying outcome. Mitchell has a fantastic candor that allows for a sense of change to be almost necessary, reflecting a show that is more durable and interpretive than it might get credit for. Not every mistake is the end of the work. Sometimes change is frustrating and long. But it's important to just keep trying.
"Working on a Song" is a perfect handbook for anyone who might want to know a little bit more about Hadestown and how it came to be. As one of the few Broadway shows with a sense of painstaking craft behind it, there's plenty to dive into and appreciate in breaking down lyrics and understanding why certain lines were taken out. Everything is given meaning and doing a close read allows for a greater appreciation for how this show functions. Everything is much more powerful and the appreciation for collaboration grows by the end. It's a good thing to have as a resource, if just to remind you that if you think an idea's not working, don't be dismayed. It may not be clear now or in a few days, but if it truly matters it will one day.
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