Once – Phoenix Theatre
It has taken me a while to see ‘Once’ Not that I didn’t want to, I did, I had seen the film and loved it. Something always got in the way. However having see the cast’s performance at the Olivier Awards, I knew that it had to be done soon.
The chance came when a friend and I were in town seeing Relative Values, we had time to kill in the daytime. We bought matinee tickets and headed to the Phoenix, upon arriving at the theatre we had the chance to upgrade our tickets to VIP which we did. Private lounge, own waiter – just the way to spend a Thurs afternoon 🙂
Before the show and during the interval there is the opportunity to have a drink on stage which is decked out as a bar in Ireland. Great fun! As we were having our cheeky drink and marvelling at the theatre the ensemble come on stage and sing a few songs before the show starts. Fantastic, you don’t know whether to dance along or look mildly embarrassed as the rest of the audience look at you.
There was I wishing that I had put ‘be on a West End Stage’ on my 101in1001 list.
For those who have not seen the film it is a simply a love story, a Guy meets a Girl, there is mutual attraction, there are complications, there is music and there is song, the set is simple, the cast amazingly talented and seeing it staged gives it a beautiful edge.
The music and lyrics written by Glen Hansard and Marketa Irglova are from the heart, there is no orchestra or elaborate set change, all the cast play accoustic instruments on stage as part of the show. Makes you want to be in Ireland.
There has been a cast change since I saw it. I saw Arthur Darvill, and was very pleasantly surprised at his voice aand playing (my children, stark Dr Who fans refuse to believe me) and the absolutely MARVELLOUS Zrinka Cvitesic who stole the show from her very first scene.
Currently Guy is played by David Hunter @thedavidhunter and Girl is played by Jill Winternitz @jillwinternitz just another excuse to see it again!
I would recommend this production to anyone wanting a gentle sad love story, prehaps even to those who don’t like musicals as the play incorporates the music effortlessly.
I wouldn’t recommend this to those who like ‘big’ musicals, jazz hands massive showtunes.
Incidently a friend of mine saw it last week and hadn’t seen the film, and was blown away! I urge you if you haven’t seen the film yet, don’t. Go and see the show first.
Video
Arthur Darvill and Zrinka Cvitesic – Falling Slowly
More videos on their You tube channel OnceMusicalLondon
and a HILARIOUS one for their West End Eurovision Ident featuring the infamous @westendproducer – Love it and voted for it 🙂
Official Website: http://www.oncemusical.co.uk/
Facebook: Click here
Twitter Feed: Click here
The Cast I saw
| Guy | Arthur Darvill | @rattyburvil |
| Girl | Zrinka Cvitesic | |
| Baruska | Fiona Bruce | |
| Da | Mark Carlisle | |
| Emcee | Jamie Cameron | |
| Svec | Matthew Ganley | |
| Andrej | Mathew Hamper | |
| Eamon | Daniel Healey | |
| Ex Girlfriend | Maria Parvin | |
| Billy | Tim Prottey-Jones | |
| Reza | Loren O’Dair | @Lorenodair |
| Bank Manager | Jez Unwin | |
| Ivanka | Juliana Cotton/Demi Lee/Gemma Loader/Ruby Payne |
| Director | John Tiffany | |
| Music and Lyrics | Glen Hansard / Marketa Irglova | |
| Book | Enda Walsh | |
| Scenic and Costume Designer | Bob Crowley | |
| Lighting Designer | Natasha Katz | |
| Sound Designer | Clive Goodwin | |
| Associate Director | Ros Coombes | |
| Music Orchestrations | Martin Lowe |
Don’t take my word for it here is what other people said:
****(*) London Theatre
**** West End Whingers
**** Michael Billington – The Guardian
*** Charles Spencer – The Telegraph
To find our what people are saying on twitter: Tweets about “@oncemusicalLDN”
Gallery
Tickets
Tickets Range from £22 to £97.50 and currently are readily available.
There may be some ticket deals available
Have you seen ‘Once’, did you like it? I would love to hear your views.
Leave a comment below, if you have more media or links you would like me to add then please email me at sammi@sammioneill.com and I shall be happy to put them in.
Tweet (or follow) me at @sammi_blogs
And a couple of photos from me.
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- VIP lounge
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- Mirrors mirrors everywhere
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- on the stage at ONCE
sammioneill 
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