Folk Opera in Barre

Tomorrow night (December 8th) marks the opening of Hadestown at Barre's Socialist Labor Party Hall. Hadestown is based on the Greek myth of Orpheus and Eurydice. Your mythology a bit rusty? The sum of the story is the lyre-playing Orpheus descends into the underworld and attempts to win back his fallen bride Eurydice through the power of music. It's been done a million times (Moulin Rouge! anyone?), but this time it's Vermont style.

A collaboration between Anais Mitchell, pixie voiced Montpelier based singer songwriter who could give Ani Difranco a run for her political money, composer Michael Chorney (Magic City), and director Ben T. Matchstick (Bread & Puppet, Second VT Republic, Cyclown Circus), this self-desribed folk opera replaces hades with a Depression-era America company town. Boy is it a relief to see the leftists back in Barre.

The first three showings will take place at Barre's historic Socialist Labor Party Hall with the next set at the Vergennes Opera House.

Advance tickets for this weekend's showings are available from the Barre Opera House and Langdon St. Café.

Anais Mitchell performing 1984

Purchase Anais Mitchell's Hymns for the Exiled here.