Hex (musical)
{{short description|2021 musical}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}
{{Infobox musical|
| name = Hex
| image = HexMusicalPoster.jpg
| caption = Promotional Poster
| music = Jim Fortune
| lyrics = Rufus Norris
| book = Tanya Ronder
| basis = Sleeping Beauty
by Charles Perrault
| productions = {{ubl| 2021 London
}}
| premiere_date = 4 December 2021
| premiere_location = Olivier Theatre, Royal National Theatre, London
| subtitle =
| image_size = 230px
}}
Hex is a musical with book by Tanya Ronder, lyrics by Rufus Norris and music by Jim Fortune based on the classic fairy tale Sleeping Beauty by Charles Perrault.{{Cite web |date=2022-05-03 |title=Hex |url=https://www.nationaltheatre.org.uk/shows/hex |access-date=2022-07-09 |website=National Theatre}}
Plot
Fairy (a fairy named Fairy) lives in a forest all alone, until a palace secretary, Smith, stumbles upon her whilst running from an ogre. He has been searching for a fairy to bring back to the palace to cast a spell to put the newly born princess to sleep, as she has been keeping the whole palace awake. Fairy says if this is what the baby wants, she will be able to perform a bless of sleep on the child.
The show also deals with themes of parenting and the difficulties of the postpartum period.{{Cite web|last=Akbar|first=Arifa|title=Hex review – musical Sleeping Beauty casts a darkly dazzling spell|url=https://www.theguardian.com/stage/2022/dec/07/hex-review-musical-sleeping-beauty-olivier-national-theatre-rufus-norris|date=December 7, 2022|website=The Guardian}}
Production history
= National Theatre, London (2021-23) =
The musical was announced on 4 June 2021 as part of the National Theatre, London's autumn 2021 season. On 16 July 2021 initial casting was announced, including Rosalie Craig as the Fairy.{{Cite web |title=Hex musical at the National Theatre announces initial casting {{!}} WhatsOnStage |url=https://www.whatsonstage.com/london-theatre/news/hex-musical-national-cast-2021_54512.html |access-date=2021-07-16 |website=www.whatsonstage.com |language=en-GB}} The show began previews in the Olivier Theatre from 4 December until 22 January 2022. The press night was due to take place on 15 December, however due to the rise in cases of the COVID-19 pandemic it was postponed to 21 December, then cancelled along with numerous other performances including the filming of the production to be broadcast for NT Live. Norris announced that the musical would end on 22 January 2022, but be restaged later in the year with a full run including a press night.{{Cite web|date=2022-01-06|title=Hex: National Theatre cancels opening night of Covid-cursed musical|url=https://www.theguardian.com/stage/2022/jan/06/hex-national-theatre-cancels-opening-night-musical|access-date=2022-01-11|website=the Guardian|language=en}}
The production was directed by Norris with design by Katrina Lindsay, orchestrations by Simon Hale, music supervision by Marc Tritschler, music direction by Tarek Merchant, lighting design by Paul Anderson, choreography by Jade Hackett with consultant choreography by Bill Deamer, sound design by Simon Baker and video design by Ash J Woodward.{{Cite web|title=National Theatre to premiere new musical Hex, based on Sleeping Beauty fairytale {{!}} WhatsOnStage|url=https://www.whatsonstage.com/london-theatre/news/national-hex-musical-sleeping-beauty_54191.html|access-date=2021-06-04|website=www.whatsonstage.com|language=en-GB}}{{Cite web|last=Thomas|first=Sophie|date=2021-06-03|title=Giles Terera, Tanya Moodie and Lesley Sharp feature in new National Theatre season, full details announced|url=https://www.londontheatre.co.uk/theatre-news/news/giles-terera-tanya-moodie-and-lesley-sharp-feature-in-new-national-theatre-season|access-date=2021-06-04|website=London Theatre Guide|language=en}}{{Cite web|last=Wild|first=Stephi|title=Photos: First Look at HEX at the National Theatre!|url=https://www.broadwayworld.com/westend/article/Photos-First-Look-at-HEX-at-the-National-Theatre-20211210|access-date=2022-01-10|website=BroadwayWorld.com|language=en}}
A highlights album of songs from the musical was released by Broadway Records on 15 December 2021.{{Cite web|title=Hex (Highlights from the National Theatre Production) [MP3]|url=https://www.broadwayrecords.com/london-1/hex-highlights-from-the-national-theatre-production-mp3|access-date=2022-01-11|website=Broadway Records|language=en-US}}
Return season performances were scheduled to run from 26 November 2022 to 14 January 2023 with Irish actor/singer Lisa Lambe as the Fairy.
Cast and characters
| class="wikitable"
|+ ! rowspan="2" |Character !London !London Remount |
| 2021
!2022 |
|---|
| Fairy
| style="text-align: center;"|Rosalie Craig | style="text-align: center;"|Lisa Lambe |
| Queenie
| style="text-align: center;"|Tamsin Carroll | style="text-align: center;"|Victoria Hamilton-Barritt |
| Rose
| style="text-align: center;"|Kat Ronney | style="text-align: center;"|Rosie Graham |
| Bert
| colspan=2 style="text-align: center;" |Michael Elcock |
| Prince
| style="text-align: center;"|Natasha J Barnes | |
| Queen Regina
| style="text-align: center;"|Daisy Maywood | style="text-align: center;" |Neïma Naouri |
| Bruiser Thorn
| style="text-align: center;"|Delroy Atkinson | style="text-align: center;"|Mark Oxtoby |
| King/Prince
| style="text-align: center;"|Shaq Taylor | style="text-align: center;"|Kody Mortimer |
| Smith
| style="text-align: center;"|Sargon Yelda | style="text-align: center;"|Michael Matus |
Reception
{{expand section|date=January 2022}}
Time Out described the cast as "terrific".{{Cite web |last=Saville |first=Alice |date=2022-12-07 |title=The National Theatre’s big Sleeping Beauty musical Hex is weird but fun |url=https://www.timeout.com/london/theatre/hex-review |access-date=2023-08-04 |website=Time Out London |language=en-GB}}
The Guardian described the show as "a fabulous musical" that is original and quirky, but wasn't as positive about the music.{{Cite web|last=Akbar|first=Arifa|title=Hex review – musical Sleeping Beauty casts a darkly dazzling spell|url=https://www.theguardian.com/stage/2022/dec/07/hex-review-musical-sleeping-beauty-olivier-national-theatre-rufus-norris|date=December 7, 2022|website=The Guardian}}