This musical feels more like an Irish folk pub than a Broadway musical, right from the start. As the audience files in from the street there’s a band playing on the stage mingling with audience members as they get drinks from the stage bar. Number after knee pounding number is played and sung until the lights slowly dim and a spotlight isolates one guitar strumming singer from the rest. Before you realize it, the house is dark, the lead is singing and an actress has entered the stage to listen.
ONCE is a new kind of Broadway show, very different from the standard musical fare where the book is distinct from the songs and choreography. Maybe that’s why it captured this year’s Tony Award for best musical. Have a listen.
In this show the music IS the show because the story revolves around musicians. Of course there’s also a love story evolving but that is complicated.
Steve Kazee is the focus of the story and sings most of the emotionally charged numbers that rip through your gut. He’s incredible and won a Tony for his performance. Equally powerful is Cristin Milioti, Tony nominee, whose soulful contributions are haunting and melodic simultaneously. The music is phenomenal and will soon join my CD collection.
ONCE is among the best theater I’ve seen where story and music are one entity and the result is an exhilarating, memorable experience. BRAVO!
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