Credit: Joan Marcus 2013
When I first heard that Once was coming to Broadway, I was intrigued and excited. But I was also fearful that it wouldn’t live up to the original film that I so adored. The combination of the music by the wonderful musicians Glen Hansard and Marketa Irglova and the love story has never left my mind. It’s one of my all time favorites and I didn’t want my bubble to burst. So I held off on seeing the show, knowing that as an avid theater goer, I would one day see it.
That day came yesterday when I attended a matinee of the show and I can honestly sigh with relief. The show is both a faithful adaptation and a splashy Broadway experience at the same time. You are probably wondering how this possible with a small, independent film with beautiful love songs and a heart-breaking story translates to the stage, right? Well, the playwright, along with the help of songwriter Hansard, took every element from the film and accentuated them with the brilliant acting, music and a set that doesn’t change. Everything takes place in the same room and the entire cast pretty much sits on the sidelines and watches the love story unfold. Reading this, it’s probably hard to imagine, but sitting in the theater, it just worked. The songs are as sweet now as they were then, and when they are sung, they carry the audience member to another place. Isn’t that what Broadway is all about – being transported? The show is about love and taking chance using two people as the main storytellers, Guy and Girl, played beautifully by Paul Nolan and Joanna Christie. Having only recently replaced the original stars, who led the show to take home a Tony Award in 2012, I can honestly say they nail it – down to the Irish accent and believable chemistry. The supporting cast is equally impressive and should all be commended for staying on stage during the entire show. When they chimed in to provide chorus and additional music to songs like “Falling Slowly,” my breath literally stopped. They are brilliant actors and musicians who were perfectly cast by a seemingly superb production team. They did a great job finding people who can bridge the two worlds so seamlessly.
The show is also different to anything that I’ve seen lately in that the show’s prologue. Yes, an actual prologue. I walked into the theater 15 minutes early to find audience members mingling onstage with the cast members playing and singing their own songs. Audience members are also invited back up during intermission to order drinks at the stage set’s bar. There was a lot of action from the moment I stepped into the theater, quite unexpectedly, but it was very satisfying. Watch this to find out more about the show’s creative process:
If you’re in NYC or are heading this way, I highly recommend Once the Musical.
Disclosure: I was provided with complimentary tickets but all opinions are my own.
Follow
Speak Your Mind