Review: ONCE at Velma V Morrison Center

This weekend the Velma V. Morrison Center brought us ONCE, based on the 2007 movie of the same name. The low budget film won an Oscar for for the best original song "Falling Slowly", and I am thrilled that most of the music (the best part of the movie) is included in the musical version.

The show finds a girl with a broken vacuum cleaner who meets a guy that has given up on music and love in modern day Dublin. They have both had their hearts broken. The girl, (Mackenzie Lesser-Roy) has an estranged husband who has left her and their young daughter. The guy, (Sam Cheri) had his love abandon him for New York City.

They soon find themselves making music together. As she forces him to play a duet with her, she makes him realize that there are possibilities again.

Accompanied by a cast of brilliant musicians, each played their role on stage as well as one to three instruments. Reminiscent of John Doyle's revival of Sweeney Todd where the cast all played instruments, this may be one of the most gifted ensembles I've seen in some time. From the pre-show music to the very last song, the energy and musicianship is fantastic.

The interior pub set never changed. Simple set pieces and lighting took us to the ocean, a bank, a bedroom, a music store, and a recording studio.

If you missed this performance, you could watch the movie, at least to enjoy the gorgeous music written by Glen Hansard and Marketa Irglova. I wish however, touring casts would record an album for us to purchase. This ensemble was amazing and I would love to have this cast album.

Be sure to check out the Morrison Center website for all the events coming up. Including the Boise State Theater Arts musical Urinetown in March