What's one of the first things Hermes does in the show? He pats Eurydice as if it is nice to see her above ground again and then he introduces "the hardest-working chorus in the gods' almighty world," as well as the band, and tells the audience to give them a round of applause. In this show, everyone is important, and the narrator is going to make sure you know it.
The London version of "Road to Hell" had Orpheus and Eurydice see one another for the first time and bow/curtsy, respectively, while on Broadway they have a Meet Cute and bump into one another before staring, entranced.
Hermes may claim he isn't kind in "Any Way the Wind Blows", but the fact that he took in his friend's son, no questions asked, because he liked how Orpheus sang and his way of seeing the world is very heartwarming.
Lillias White, Will Mann, and Jon Jon Briones' Hermes all call Orpheus "baby" in dialogue, showing how deeply their bond with him runs and how much they want him to succeed.
Orpheus falls in love with Eurydice immediately, and in "Come Home With Me" Hermes is supportive of him and coaches him on how to talk to her, telling Eurydice Orpheus will make her feel alive. Orpheus also gives Eurydice a flower folded out of newspaper, which she crumples up before putting in her pocket, already starting to warm up to him.
The reprise is similarly heartwarming, especially Eurydice's overjoyed proclamation of "you came!"
When Orpheus makes a carnation bloom out of nowhere in "Wedding Song", Eurydice goes from skeptical to instantly supportive and tells him he has to finish the song, before sincerely asking him about their marriage bed.
An interview with Chibueze Ihuoma mentioned that one night during "Wedding Song," he accidentally catapulted the flower out of his hand, where it landed onstage. Morgan Siobhan Green played it like Eurydice saw the flower growing out of the ground instead and was awed by it.
As "Livin' It Up on Top" starts playing and the rest of the cast members are getting to reintroducing Persephone, she is excitedly packing for her trip back above and plants a quick kiss on a pissed off, mopey Hades before going on her way. While you do sympathize with Hades for being left alone half of the year and for his deteriorating marriage, it’s nevertheless cute and funny.
Orpheus is initially unable to have fun due to catering to Persephone and the chorus, but eventually joins in by playing his lyre with the rest of the band. Later, he toasts to Persephone and her bounty towards the end of the song, sincerely thanking her for her work and promising they'll always raise their cups to her, and the ensemble members cheer his name when he begins the toast.
The trombonist gets a chance to shine during the instrumental break and dances with Persephone and the chorus while playing a solo.
Eurydice is initially too shy to dance and has to be coaxed into it by Persephone. Once she gets grooving, the entire chorus applauds her, and it's one of the few times in the show where she's carefree and happy.
"All I've Ever Known" is the main love song for Eurydice and Orpheus as Eurydice details how hard her life was, how Orpheus makes her forget how hard the world can be, and asks him to hold her forever. Orpheus feels unworthy of her love and feels he's known her before they even met, and promises to stay with her forever.
Before the song begins, Persephone walks over to Orpheus and appraises him and Eurydice, then sadly watches from the side as they sing, likely remembering similar times with Hades.
In the Broadway version of "A Gathering Storm," Eurydice gives Orpheus a kiss on the shoulder as a goodbye before she heads out to get food and firewood. In the London version, he instinctively holds hands with her in a similar manner. A chorus member also gives Eurydice her jacket before she leaves.
While Eurydice leaving for Hadestown turns out to be a bad thing, the Fates tell the audience not to judge her harshly, as it's easy to have principles when you're well-fed and financially secure but there's no telling what you'd do when you're the one who's penniless and starving to death.
During "Wait for Me," Orpheus hears Hermes's warning that Hadestown is dangerous, and people don't return from there. Orpheus goes anyway for his love of Eurydice, and Hermes defies orders to tell him how to get there. To make it even sweeter, the chorus, Orpheus' only words through most of the song, consist of a plea to wait for him so that he can come along, rather than necessarily bringing her back.
"Our Lady of the Underground" has Persephone taking the time to credit each band member by name and instrument. In the live tour, if the drummer is backstage, she tells the audience to clap extra loudly so they can hear it.
Persephone becomes fond of Orpheus and Eurydice in her time up top, which pays off in "How Long?" when she pleads with Hades to reconsider because she knows them personally, telling Hades that their love is just like her and Hades' when they were younger. The song itself makes clear that she and Hades still deeply love one another despite the marriage being on the rocks.
"Epic III," which doubles as Orpheus' masterpiece as well as his plea to Hades. In spite of everything, he tries to appeal to whatever is left of Hades' decency, and remind him of how in love and happy he and Persephone once were. By the end, Hades and his wife are dancing like newlyweds, and the Workers have taken off their caps and regained a sense of individuality. And, despite the way the story ends, there's indication that it did genuinely move Hades, as he lets Persephone leave on time to bring spring and promises to try again in the fall.
An interview with Amber Gray and Patrick Page mentioned that one night at the end of "Epic III" going into the dance, Patrick dropped the flower that spawns in Hades' hand. He improvised and had Hades go to his knees to pick it up like in a proposal, with Persephone joining him, and they held hands as they went into the dance.
"Promises" has Orpheus and Eurydice reaffirm their love and vow to stay together come what may. Orpheus apologizes for breaking his extravagant wedding promises, and Eurydice tells him not to promise her the world and just be steady and there for her. Eurydice also extends friendship to the Workers with handshakes, held hands, and affirming her determination to help them, and they share in their joy to reach the surface together.
The NYTW version is also heartwarming as Orpheus and Eurydice initially take each other to task for their broken promises, but forgive one another and vow to face whatever may happen together.
"Wait for Me (Reprise)" has Hermes encouraging Orpheus with a lecture about how the real danger is inside his mind, while Eurydice and the Workers sing a song of hope as Orpheus begins his ascent, vowing to show the way the world can be—if Orpheus can do it, so can Eurydice, and if she can, so can the Workers. Meanwhile, Hades and Persephone vow to try again next fall, since it's time for her to bring spring. Hades lets her go, and promises to wait for her.
The message of the show, as Hermes points out in "Road to Hell (Reprise)", is to hope and work for a better world even though it might be impossible. Orpheus failed, but he gave Hermes the gift to see the world as it could be in spite of the way that it is, and he'll keep trying for a happier ending as the story resets with spring on its way. Adding to it is that Orpheus and Eurydice meet again, as if for the very first time, and Persephone comforts Hermes in every iteration of the song, and he repays her with a short dance.
'Cause here's the thing To know how it ends And still begin to sing it again As if it might turn out this time I learned that from a friend of mine
In the Edmonton version, Eurydice uses her match as a symbol to light the way for the other workers, and it's implied she joins Hermes in telling the story of Orpheus and Eurydice to all who will listen. By the end of the song, Persephone, Hades, and the Fates gather to listen too.
In the London version, Hermes gently cups Eurydice's chin to comfort her when she makes her way onstage. On Broadway and tour, it's reversed as Eurydice comforts Hermes by showing him the red carnation and giving it to him to hold.
During the Curtain Call and "We Raise Our Cups," the entire cast, including Hades, lifts metal mugs filled with wine to honor Orpheus. He even joins in while playing his lyre.
When Reeve Carney, who played Orpheus from Edmonton to Broadway, left the show, Andre Hermes and Lillias Hermes teamed up to help him take Eurydice home as they bid him farewell. After thousands of attempts, one Orpheus finally made it.
Andre Hermes: There's only one thing left to do. Lillias Hermes: Go on, baby, take her home with you! Both Hermes: A'ight... Time to go!
with Chibueze Ihuoma mentioned that one night during "Wedding Song," he accidentally catapulted the flower out of his hand, where it landed onstage. Morgan Siobhan Green played it like Eurydice saw the flower growing out of the ground instead and was awed by it.