BWW Reviews: ONCE Warms Audience at The Majestic Theatre in San Antonio, Texas

CO-WRITTEN BY Kathy Strain and Alex Urdiales

ONCE doesn't start quietly, In fact as you enter the Majestic Theatre where ONCE opened Tuesday night, you'll notice that the show has already started as members of the cast are on stage playing music and singing classic songs of Ireland. This really sets the mood for what you're about experience. ONCE which is based on the 2007 film of the same name which set out to reinvent the movie musical and succeeds even winning an Oscar for best original song "Falling Slowly". ONCE on stage also wanted to reinvent the musical and does so with such ease as one wondered why it took so long for a musical to have a perfect blend of music and emotions; story and dance; balance and movement.

Girl meets Guy. They fall in love. They live happily ever after...but not together. ONCE is a show about love and missed opportunities. It is about believing in yourself and the people around you. ONCE is the one chance to find happiness in your life. The story of Guy who's lost his love and his love of music meets Girl who believes in him. His songs come together along with some other lost Dubliners to make music. It's so simple and yet there is so many moving parts that takes this simple story and makes it one charged with emotions. The current touring production of ONCE has been out on the road since 2013 and its two main characters, Girl and Guy have been played by the same to actors; Dani de Waal as Girl and Stuart Ward as Guy. It's clear that the two actors seem to have great chemistry onstage to translate into a great experience for the audience to enjoy. Ward and de Waal's voices blend well and make such songs as "Falling Slowly" and "When Your Mind's Made Up" enjoyable for the audience. Let's not forget the great supporting cast members including Evan Harrington who played Billy and Alex Nee as Andrej brought their own strengths as they played these characters.

Original music by Glen Hansard and Marketa Irglova keep most of the original music from the film and add some as the music hits a balance where the songs from the film don't outshine the songs added. With all these things and the excellent acting from the cast, ONCE ends quietly as you will be overcome with emotions. This story of lost people coming together to make music and find hope is so personal that you'll find it hard not to clap and feel moved by it. It will stick with you well after you leave the theater.

ONCE plays at the Majestic Theatre from March 2-8, 2015. Tickets can be purchased at their website.

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