Our very own Sandra jetted over to Dublin to check out the new musical, Once, due to take the London stage by storm when it opens at the Phoenix theatre in the heart of the West End. The show previews from the 15th March with the official opening night scheduled for the 9th April 2013.
The musical is based on Once the Oscar-winning 2006 Irish musical film set in Dublin. The film starred musician Glen Hansard of the Irish folk rock band The Frames and Markéta Irglová as musicians. Hansard and Irglová composed and performed all of the original songs in the movie.
Sandra reports that it was different for sure, the show is simple and beautifully staged with haunting music. Sandra got to meet Barbara Brocoli one of the producers of the show, who is also a producer of the Bond franchise, she was so lovely and passionate about the show. She said watching the audience after the first 15 minutes everyone seems to get snuggled up to their loved ones as the show evokes such romantic feelings.
It seems James Bond is taking over the West End of London in one way or another, as One Direction might say, what with Skyfall director, Sam Mendes, directing the new show at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory the musical.
Once – A New Musical opened on Broadway in February 2012 and was the winner of 8 2012 Tony Awards, including Best New Musical. Once is not just a musical but a love story about music. The show is unlike any recent musical and feels fresh, honest and different. Once is adapted from the book and film of the same title. “Falling Slowly”, one of the key songs in the show, won the Oscar for Best Original song in the film in 2007.
Once the musical will be showing at the Phoenix theatre in London
The storyline is simplistic, Boy meets Girl, Boy loses Girl, the plot unfolds gently over the timespan of a week to haunting Irish and Czech melodic songs. The choreography is exquisite, subtle and under-stated and was directed by John Tiffany of Black Watch fame and Steven Hoggett. During the two biggest choreographic scenes in the show the cast are playing their musical instruments, which is just so clever.
Featuring an impressive ensemble of actor/musicians who play their own instruments onstage, Once the musical tells the enchanting tale of a Dublin street musician who’s about to give up on his dream of success when a beautiful young Czech woman who plays piano in a music shop takes a sudden interest in his haunting love songs as he repairs her vacuum cleaner. As the chemistry and trust between them grows, his music soars to powerful new heights and she motivates him to form a band and make a studio recording of his music. Their unlikely connection turns out to be deeper and more complex than your everyday romance but is it the right time for their love? He has a girlfriend in London and she a husband, mother and a daughter who need her. It’s an unforgettable story about going for your dreams and the power of music to connect us all.
An old-fashioned love story that dares to be different, Once is brought to life by a supremely talented cast of actor-musicians who unleash all the giddy exhilaration of an Irish ceilidh live on stage. Some of the Audience are invited up on stage to buy a drink at the stage bar whilst the cast warm up prior to the start of the show. Featuring all of the magical songs from the original film, including the Oscar-winning “Falling Slowly”, this is an achingly beautiful simple show that strikes an unforgettable chord. It’s not often that a musical like this come around.
Declan Bennett and Zrinka Cvitesic play the lead roles. Barbara Broccoli O.B.E. is one of a pedigree of producers for Once the musical and was recently famously mentioned during Adele’s Oscar acceptance speech for producing the Bond film Skyfall.
Tickets for the show in London are on sale on-line at showsinLondon.co.uk or call one of our friendly team of experts on 0871 976 976 7
