Diane and I both enjoyed Once, the movie version. The story of an Irish musician who falls in love with a quirky Czech pianist is off-beat and original. This play version had the most unusual beginning of any play I’ve ever seen. The stage was set up like a Dublin bar. Audience members were invited up to the stage for a drink. Then part of the cast (all musicians) appeared on stage started playing songs with audience members surrounding them. After a few songs, the audience moved back to their seats and the stars of the play emerged to sing their opening song. No, I did not go up on the stage because we had third row seats. This play version of Once includes songs not in the movie. I’m including the track listing from the Once: The Broadway Musical soundtrack and the movie soundtrack so you can see the difference. For those of you who were fans of How I Met Your Mother, the Czech pianist on the soundtrack is played by Cristin Milioti who played “the Mother” in the final season. This touring company delivered a high energy performance. The stars, Stuart Ward and Dani de Waal, showed off their musicality and strong voices. If Once comes to your neighborhood, I highly recommend it. GRADE: A-
Once: The Broadway Musical
TRACK LIST:
1. The North Strand
2. Leave
3. Falling Slowly
4. The Moon
5. Ej Pada Pada Rosicka
6. If You Want Me
7. Broken Hearted Hoover Fixer Sucker Guy
8. Say It To Me Now
9. Abandoned In Bandon
10. Gold
11. Sleeping
12. When Your Mind’s Made Up
13. The Hill
14. It Cannot Be About That
15. Gold (A Cappella)
16. Falling Slowly (Reprise)
Onec: The Movie Soundtrack
TRACK LISTING:
1. Falling Slowly
2. If You Want Me
3. Broken Hearted Hoover Fixer Sucker Guy
4. When Your Mind’s Made Up
5. Lies listen
6. Gold
7. The Hill
8. Fallen From The Sky
9. Leave
10. Trying To Pull Myself Away
11. All The Way Down
12. Once Glen listen
13. Say It To Me Now