Non-Fiction Book Review - 'Working on a Song: The Lyrics of Hadestown' by Anaïs Mitchell

I first heard about the musical 'Hadestown' only about eight months ago, from animatics on YouTube no less. I fell in love with the soundtrack instantly. The music and lyrics blew me away, as did the concept and characters, arisen from the underworld depths and mysteries of Greek Mythology. I dig the husky, smoky, 1920s US southwestern beatnik style. It is poetry I can get all aboard with, like the best train journey to the mining tunnels, because the characters are so powerfully defined and real. And it was written and directed by women.

I recently bought the new Broadway soundtrack album. Now I have bought and read 'Working on a Song: The Lyrics of Hadestown'; a book about the births of ideas, the deaths/discarding of ideas (called, affectionately, "orphans"), the new growths of old ideas (also orphans), the behind-the-scenes processes, the collaborations, the endless editing, the endless highs, the endless woes, the endless nights, the killing of your darlings, and other lyrical and staging changes that come with making a truly great musical, on- or off-Broadway.

Vitally, to go with all of that hardship and criticism that comes with a career in the creative field, it is about ambition and passion.

The experiences and advice given by the wonderful Anaïs Mitchell in 'Working on a Song' can be attributed to any kind of writing, not just song lyrics and poetry. It's the same continuous hard work, towards reaching an epiphany, reaching that revelatory word or line, in order to make it fit, to make it click, with its context; to put it as close to the unattainable concept of perfection as it can be. That marvellous, boundless, tireless human imagination!

It makes me realise how very important every word of dialogue is, in everything. There is so much to consider; so much thought needed in order to convey the right idea and impression upon an audience. It now amazes me, when I think of all the bad films and TV episodes that I've ever seen, those with jaw-droppingly horrible, terrible and WTF dialogue, and I have to wonder what the hell the writer and the hundreds of people working on the production were thinking to leave in that particular line and/or character action and motive, without thinking about the consequences; how it will effect and impact upon the rest of the film/episode. Granted, television works within very tight deadlines and other restraints, and neither it nor the film industry have the leeway to edit and experiment profoundly the way that musical theatre does, but caring is key.

In storytelling, everything is connected. There should be - must be - a connection. To an idea, and subsequently to the characters. The better to connect with the audience without it going tits up.

Every line of dialogue is important. Every detail counts when telling a story. Love all of the characters that you create, even the antagonists, so that you care to make sure that your audience will fall in love with them as well.

'Working on a Song' is a rich and satisfying read for any 'Hadestown' fan, and theatre fan. I read it all in one night, when I didn't think I would. I finished it just after midnight. While, in my opinion, it could have been longer, in expounding on more details about the creative process and the song lyric changes, it is a triumph as it is. Like 'Hadestown' itself, it is something that's so seemingly simple, but is full to the wine goblet brim with creativity, introspection, and heart.

Also, I will never get tired of hearing Amber Gray say "It ain't right, it ain't natural". Actually, I will never get tired of hearing Amber Gray say anything, period. Same goes for André De Shields and Patrick Page. And every girl (including Anaïs Mitchell!) who plays the rhapsodical and indefatigable Eurydice.

Final Score: 4/5