What’s the importance of the lift and turntable in hadestown?
What’s the importance of the lift and turntable in hadestown?
#1What’s the importance of the lift and turntable in hadestown?
Posted: 3/26/24 at 10:36pm
I’m not asking for myself but for my friend to settle an argument. We saw hadestown on tour last Sunday, it was amazing, John Krause is the best Orpheus. Anywho, he doesn’t think that the lift, the walls opening, or the turntable is important for the show, And the only two shows he’s seen have had the walls open and turntables. Please explain it better than me because I know a lot of people could explain it better than a dumb teen.
#2What’s the importance of the lift and turntable in hadestown?
Posted: 3/26/24 at 10:48pm
I haven't seen the show since it opened in 2019, so unfortunately I can't name specific examples. But I distinctly remember feeling as though Chavkin made great use of the revolve and the elevator as tools to physically represent character relationships: distance, turbulence, and other dynamics that existed in the plot were heightened by the use of physical space, without feeling excessively literal.
That said, at the end of the day these are directorial choices. Like any director, she's using a set of tools to mold, craft, and otherwise convey the story with a sense of clarity and intention. But another director might've found different ways of doing those things, that don't require a revolve or a lift. In fact, when Chavkin herself directed the show Off-Broadway, it didn't have either of those things, and I'm sure future directors will tell this story without those scenic elements too.
So like, are they important? Yeah, for sure. Are they ESSENTIAL? I'd say no.
QueenTwinnied
Leading Actor Joined: 6/16/17
#3What’s the importance of the lift and turntable in hadestown?
Posted: 3/27/24 at 2:40am
The lift better demonstrates a character entering or leaving Hadestown. The imagery of sinking into the underground is very literal and striking.
That being said, I don’t think the garage door effect on tour detracts from the show. It’s just a little different
Ultimately it’s a matter of taste. I prefer the lift and think it adds more gravitas to the moment of Eurydice sinking down forever.
Dolly80
Broadway Star Joined: 5/15/11
#4What’s the importance of the lift and turntable in hadestown?
Posted: 3/27/24 at 4:27am
You really have a friend questioning the ‘importance’ of people going down on a lift- in a show where they are going to hell?
Tell them to get out more.
is anything important?
These are the choices they made.
#5What’s the importance of the lift and turntable in hadestown?
Posted: 3/27/24 at 6:07am
Dolly80 said: "You really have a friend questioning the ‘importance’ of people going down on a lift- in a show where they are going to hell?
Tell them to get out more.
is anything important?
These are the choices they made."
The thing is, is that after I posted this he said he didn’t see the importance of the walls opening. I can’t wrap my head around how much he’s overthinking it and how much I wanna tell him to just shut the f*ck up. I love my friend, I really do… but I can’t keep answering these dumb questions and arguing about the same thing for a week straight.
dramamama611
Broadway Legend Joined: 12/4/07
#6What’s the importance of the lift and turntable in hadestown?
Posted: 3/27/24 at 8:56am
It's ok to see things differently. You don't have to sway him to see something that he doesn't.
My son and I discuss things a lot. Sometimes one of us changes their minds, sometimes we don't. So what? Art isnt supposed to be the same experience for each person.
If we're not having fun, then why are we doing it?
These are DISCUSSION boards, not mutual admiration boards. Discussion only occurs when we are willing to hear what others are thinking, regardless of whether it is alignment to our own thoughts.
