BWW Revieww: ONCE at Starlight Theatre

Starlight Theatre's Broadway season stepped off Friday evening with the offbeat, intimate "Once" based on a 2007 film of the same name. The film became a cult favorite and earned the 2008 Academy Award for Best Song "Falling, Slowly." Rewritten for the stage and transformed into a full-fledged musical, "Once" the musical earned eight 2012 Tony Awards including Best New Musical.

The musical, like the film before it, focuses on an impossible relationship between two gifted musicians. The play takes place in several locations around Dublin, Ireland. The main setting is a classic Irish public house.

The Guy (Sam Cieri) is a dispirited Irish performer and composer. He has almost given up on his musical dreams. His girlfriend has immigrated to America. Guy reconciles to a life working in his father's appliance repair business.

The Girl (Mackenzie Lesser-Roy) has separated from her husband and immigrated to Ireland from the Czech Republic with her Mother and her young daughter, Ivanka. She too is a musician, a pianist, and just a force of nature. The Girl hears Guy perform at a local music venue they both frequent. She hears something in his music that draws her to him and invents an excuse to approach him.

This short explanation tells the audience all they need to understand the action. Beyond that, "Once" is unlike any other musical you have likely experienced. Instead of a pit band, all the actors are also musicians whose skills on mostly stringed instruments create an appropriate full-bodied sound.

"Once" is about emotional connections between the lead characters, the supernumeraries, and the audience. An attempt to establish the bond begins immediately. Patrons are invited onto the stage before the performance begins. A jam session breaks out.

Guy resists an invitation to sing but finally gives in. The song, "Leave" is a lament. Girl catches Guy's sad song and is attracted. She convinces Guy his music should not be abandoned and sallies forth to acquire the money needed for a recording session.

The audience expects Guy and Girl will have a wonderful life together, but "Once" throws a curve ball. Both lead characters have other attachments that they choose to honor in spite of their growing connection.

"Once," requires the audience imagine a number of locations, a music store, the vacuum shop, the girl's home, Guy's bedroom, and a recording studio. Intricate, offbeat choreography and detailed movement schemes come out of nowhere, but add to the ethos of the show. Great attention is paid to stage pictures.

The Girl is the heart of the piece. She is a wonderful musician and it is her her warmth and humor that draws the audience in. The Guy transforms from bitterness to true affection. Both characters end up the better for their friendship. The ensemble is both talented and musically adept.

If there is a problem with "Once," it is one of scale. Emotional attachment is necessary for "Once" to be successful. Starlight may just be too big for this purpose. Even with half the audience area closed off and an excellent sound system, a person seated dead center will not be able to see who is speaking or feel their connections. What is intended as pregnant pause becomes ponderous stillness. It feels like the cast is dropping lines. Entire scenes go by without any music at all.

If you are looking for a rock-em sock-em musical entertainment, this may not be it. On the other hand, if a gentle authenticity trips your trigger, buy the best tickets available and get as close to the stage as possible. "Once" is the initial 2016 Broadway offering at Starlight. Performances continue on Saturday and Sunday. Tickets are available at the Starlight Theatre website or by telephone at 816-363-STAR.

Photo Credit: The" Once" tour company

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