Q&A: Bethany Antonia and Marley Fenton on themes of HADESTOWN

Photo credit: Brinkhoff-Moegenburg

Besties, we were recently invited along to the media night to welcome the new cast members of Hadestown, which continues to delight audiences at London’s Lyric Theatre. Before the performance, we met with the new principal cast members to talk about the smash hit musical. Next up, we have Bethany Antonia and Marley Fenton who are now playing Eurydice and Orpheus, respectively.

Bethany: (pointing at WEBF’s outfit) Flowers!

WEBF: Yeah, flowers! (chuckles) So it's spring now and the show is all about changing seasons, and a question for each of you: are you a summer or winter person?

Marley: I think we’re both summer, definitely – I think we discussed this with the show.

Bethany: Yeah, all day every day. We come alive in the sun. We had one day in rehearsals when the sun was out and we were like different people!

Marley: Literally.

Bethany: We came in in shorts, I was hydrating…

WEBF: You’re solar powered! We love to see it.

Marley: Definitely.

Bethany: Truly. And the 20th of March is my favourite day of the year, because it's the first day of spring and then everything… now we've got til at least until the end of September where it’s joyful and then October's going to be back… (they both share a sad, commiserating laugh)

WEBF: I'm quite the opposite so it's nice to see that you guys are on the same page - great relationship! Specific question for you, Bethany, do you ever think that Orpheus gets too much credit for being ‘the musical one’?

Bethany: Ooo, no I don't, actually. I think he's phenomenal.

WEBF: You're happy for him to take the crown on this one?

Bethany: Yeah, he can have it! I think he's wonderful. He's changing the world with his gift and she's just happy to be there. I think Eurydice is just so proud of him. And I've really felt that actually doing the show now a few times, I can feel how proud she is of him by the time that he gets, you know, to do his thing with his gift of music. So I think he can be the musical one.

WEBF: You’re a lot more generous than I am…I want to be the centre of attention all the time! Both of you again, do you personally believe that fate is inevitable? Do you think that you can break away from fate?

Marley: I think what's beautiful about the show is that it's a mixture between fate, hard work because you know, you can trust the process and you believe you know spring will come again, but also you have to get to your book and you have to get writing. You have to do the things to make sure if you want a certain thing and you'll feel like that's your fate, then you make it as possible as it can be and then you leave the rest up to… (gestures to the unknown forces about him) But yeah, I think that's what's gorgeous about this show, there's such a nice balance of that.

Bethany: Yeah, I agree. And personally, I think I have to believe in fate being the driver or else I wouldn’t keep going. I think that's my own personal relationship with like ‘what it is for you won’t pass you by’, matched with hard work. I think it's the fate that's driving the hard work.

WEBF: It's so interesting, everyone I've spoken to has such a different interpretation.

Bethany: Aw, really?

Marley: Oh, I love that! That’s just gorgeous.

WEBF: And the last question I've got is – if you, yourselves, were in the story, would you have looked back?

Marley: I think it's difficult because of the circumstances they're in...

Bethany: (laughing) Always sticking up for Orpheus!

Marley: Always! Because he's been put in a position where he has no idea and the doubt would creep in as well. I'm not sure…I would like to say I wouldn't, but I don’t know.

Bethany: I know I wouldn’t. She said “I'll wait for you”, she’d wait. “I said, I was coming, I’m coming!”

Marley: Fair enough, fair enough.

WEBF: (to Bethany) You and Clive, exactly the same!

Bethany: Literally! (as Eurydice) “I told you, I sang a the whole song! I sang two, we did a reprise! I said I'm coming!” (laughing)

Marley: Oh my gosh that’s funny…

WEBF: That's it from me. Thank you so much. It's very lovely to meet you and really looking forward to seeing the show!

Hadestown is currently booking at the Lyric Theatre until 13 December, with tickets available here.