Refugees rights musical scoops Tony Awards

June 11, 2019
Issue 
A scene from Hadestown.

The highly topical musical Hadestown won eight awards at this year's annual Tony Awards ceremony in New York on June 9. The Tonys recognise excellence in live Broadway theatre.

The stage adaption is of the 2010 concept album by American singer Anais Mitchell. It uses the ancient Greek myth of Orpheus in the underground as a template for ripping open contemporary US life, particularly the racist treatment of Central American refugees.

The most powerful political and musical piece in the show is The Wall, which demonstrates the hypocrisy and shallowness of US demagogy about refugees.

While it is perfectly in tune with Trump’s horrific treatment of refugees, the irony is that the song was written when Obama was president.

Australia deserves its own Anais Mitchell to expose our own national shame regarding refugees.

Read more about Anais Mitchell’s Hadestown here  See clips from the Broadway show here 

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