The truth is I have actually written this review twice. I loved seeing Once at Centerpoint Legacy this Tuesday, and as I was late getting to see it (because of my recent travel) I wrote up my review on Wednesday and then I heard of the passing of Glen Hansard who wrote the music for Once, and I knew I had to come up with something else. Mostly I just feel grateful to have been able to witness a wonderful production of Hansard’s beautiful work the night before his passing. I’ll always treasure that gift of experience.
Anyway, back to the production. I admire Centerpoint for taking on the musical Once. It is definitely a stretching show for them and their audience. They are doing the squeaky clean version language-wise of this show but even so it is more mature than what they typically select; thereby, making it a bold pick. It also is challenging because all of the actors also play their own live music. This is tough for a company like Centerpoint that usually performs to recorded backtracks not a live orchestra. I’m amazed they found such all-around talented performers not only for one cast but enough to double cast it.
I definitely want to see the MWF cast because this TThS cast is incredible. I was truly impressed with all involved. Their talents and chemistry together is a joy to watch. Everything is led by Spencer Hunsicker as Guy and Ellie Hughes as girl. My friend who is Irish said Hunsicker’s accent is ‘insanely good.’
Once is also is a very intimate story for the large sprawling Centerpoint stage. Fortunately director David Martin succeeds in getting the best out of his actors and making the tenderness of the scenes sing out to the mezzanine where I was sitting. The set by Truxton-Moulton captures a street of Dublin but allows us to peer into the shops and storefronts and see what is happening. Again, it makes it feel intimate despite being such a large stage. I also really enjoyed how they used a marquee lighted sign to make Girl’s Czech language and background a part of the story.
If you are unfamiliar with the story of Once it is all about recognizing the small victories of life. Girl sees Guy singing on the street with the opening song “Leave” and can sense his despair. She decides to encourage him and they strike up a friendship. This doesn’t lead to a grand record contract or a concert before thousands. It leads to one day of recording together and then they all move on. They capture a moment together and that’s enough to be special- it’s one moment as the title suggests. “Falling Slowly” is the highlight of the show but there isn’t a bad song to be had, and they are performed beautifully by this talented cast.
There were some problems the night I attended with the sound mix coming off echoey and a little off at times but this is understandable as they don’t normally work with live performers on stage and it is a big theater space. Still, I really enjoyed it and feel grateful to have been able to be inspired by Hansard’s work the night before his passing. That is a gift. I hope I get to see the MWF cast at Centerpoint. I definitely recommend seeing this beautiful show before it closes on August 18th. Tickets are very affordable and can be purchased here. I also highly recommend their Tarzan which is still playing until August 15th.
Once has music and lyrics by Glen Hansard and Markéta Irglová with a book by Enda Walsh. It is based on the film which is written and directed by John Carney (who also did one of my favorite movies Sing Street which also has a musical version I have not seen but I’m dying to see it with a book by Walsh.) The film went on to win Hansard an Oscar Once premiered Off-Broadway in 2011 and on Broadway in 2012. It won 8 Tony Awards including best musical.
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