Orpheus in the Underworld

When Offenbach rewrote the tragic Greek love story of Orpheus and Eurydice, he transformed it into a comedy of mythological proportions. In Offenbach’s version, Orpheus is no longer trying to save his beloved wife, but is almost as eager to get rid of her as she is to run off with a new lover. The gods Pluto and Jupiter are happy to assist in the breakup, as both are busy scheming for Eurydice’s affections. Along the way, all the gods and a few mortals join Pluto in the underworld as he throws a party for the ages.