ONCE THE MUSICAL at the Kennedy Center - Seeing it Once is not enough!

What a summer this is in the Baltimore/Washington area. At the Kennedy Center running at the same time is not only ONCE in the Eisenhower Theatre, but next door in the Opera House is the behemoth Tony Winner THE BOOK OF MORMON. And then you can find the record-breaking Tony Award winning musical THE PRODUCERS at the Olney Theatre Center (review to be posted shortly). Who needs to go to New York?

I will always be grateful to my son Justin for recommending the 2007 independent Irish film "Once" which featured music by Glen Hansard and Marketa Irglova. The small film about a busker guitar musician was made for only $150,000, shot in 17 days, went on to gross $20 million worldwide and garnered the Academy Award for Best Song for Hansard's lovely ballad "Falling Slowly".

There are many fables which start with the word once...once upon a time... Well, this Irish fable is one you will never forget. It concerns a struggling singer/songwriter named Guy who writes and sings his music in the streets of Dublin while working for his father repairing vacuum cleaners. (Wait till you hear the song "Broken Hearted Hoover Fixer Sucker Guy".) Guy (the incredibly talented Stuart Ward) has his guitar case open for coins in an Irish pub as the show opens, and sings his heart out about his lost love who has left him for New York City with the brilliant "Leave". Listening intently to his performance is a young Czech immigrant who was taught classical piano by her musician father. Dani De Waal, who plays "Girl" with understated brilliance, recognizes Guy's talent immediately, and determines to have him continue with his music.

But this is no typical fable. "Girl" lives in Dublin with her parents, her daughter, and we later find out her husband is back in the Czech Republic.

When "Girl" invites Guy to her performance space (a music store owned by the hilarious Billy (the scene-stealer Evan Harrington who I recall from the Broadway cast) finds a piece of paper that falls out of Guy's pocket with a song written down and before you know they are making music together with "Falling Slowly". It is a mesmerizing scene.

While at Guy's repair shop, she offers to pay for the repair of her Hoover with a lovely song by Felix Mendelssohn.

"Girl" convinces Guy to get a loan to make a CD of his music. Bank Manager Benjamin Magnuson listens to Guy's playing and agrees to the loan with the caveat that he joins the band. Magnuson not only plays guitar but the cello (wait to you see him dance with his cello!).

The scene at the recording studio is hilarious and culminates with the fabulous "When Your Mind's Made Up".

John Tiffany directs with a keen understanding of the life of Guy. He guides his cast of 12 with great fluidity. Steven Hoggett is a genius at getting the actors to move with their instruments all over the stage. Bob Crowley's simple but effective scenery is reflected in the many mirrors in the charming Irish pub. I especially enjoyed the huge mirror located at the rear of the pub which allows the audience to watch the piano playing. Crowley also designed the costumes. Natasha Katz is responsible for the effective lighting and Clive Goodwin does the job on sound, so important in a musical.

Special kudos goes to Martin Lowe as Musical Supervisor and Orchestrations. On the CD (which I highly recommend), Lowe, arranged, orchestrated, and conducted the cast during a fifteen hour session in a recording studio without headphones, baffles, or separate rooms. He commented, "We just sat in a circle and played these songs for each other". Assisting Lowe as Assistant Music Supervisor is Rob Preuss who I've known for 13 years for his talent as keyboard player in the pit of MAMMA MIA! which Lowe also worked on.

Standouts also include the nerdy Andrej (Alex Nee) who dreams of leaving his job flipping burgers to become a district manager), and Baruska, the "Girl's" mother (Tina Stafford) who plays a mean accordion and leads many of the Czech numbers. The rest of the cast includes Sarah McKinley Austin, Matt DeAngelis, John Steven Gardner, Ryan Link, Erica Spyres, Erica Swindell,and Scott Waara.

Now to the two leads. I see a huge future to both Ward and De Waal. Ward, like those other famous musicians, hails from Liverpool and began with the show as an understudy in the West End. He is an accomplished musician, singer and songwriter of his own. While the cast was in Toronto for six weeks, he recorded his CD entitle "Pictures" which he peddles and autographs after each performance at the Kennedy Center. It is certainly worth the $20 cost. I really enjoy it. There are three members of the cast of ONCE on the CD, Magnuson, and even De Waal (piano and back-up vocals). I also learned Ward has appeared on the hit British show "Downton Abbey".

Dani deWaal performed as "Sophie" in MAMMA MIA! in London's West End. She has the acting chops and voice to be a performer on Broadway for many years to come.

May I suggest you arrive at ONCE thirty minutes before curtain. The audience is invited on stage to partake in a drink on the set and view up close the set. On opening night, Irish beer had not arrived yet, but I'm sure now they are available. Cost is $9. After about fifteen minutes, 10 actor musicians appear on stage for a nice 20 minute pre-show with Irish and Czech folk music. I will be honest. It was such a thrill to be on stage within three feet of these incredible performers watching them do their magic.

I also want to point out that your ticket says "There is a 23-minute hold for latecomers".

So...do yourself a favor and get their early and enjoy an evening of great entertainment.

If you can't make the Kennedy Center engagement, ONCE performs at the Hershey Theatre in Hershey, PA from September 15 to 20.

ONCE continues until August 15, 2015. Note all evening performances begin at 7:30 and matinees begin at 1:30 p.m. For tickets, call 202-467-4600 or visit www.kennedy-center.org.

THIS AND THAT

Friday night, July 18 on PBS, you can see Angela Lansbury and James Earl Jones in a "Great Performances" staging of DRIVING MISS DAISY. It also stars Tony-winner Boyd Gaines. It was recorded at Melbourne's Comedy Theatre.

Remember Signature Theatre's production of the musical BEACHES? It has resurfaced in Chicago directed by Eric Schaeffer at the Drury Lane Theatre in suburban Chicago. See the review in the July 12 Washington Post. It is headed finally to Broadway starring Shoshanna Bean and Whitney Bashor.

If you would like to learn about auditioning, on July 20, 2015 actor Michael Kostroff, playing the role of Max Bialystock in THE PRODUCERS at the Olney Theatre Center is conducting "Audition Psych 101" at 7 p.m. Kostroff (also known for his role in the television series "The Wire") talks about the audition process, from prepartion to callback, in this unique four hour workshop. Tickets are $25 for Olney members, $35 for non-members. Visit www.olneytheatre.org to sign up.

And if you are in New York City on July 17, head to the Barnes & Noble at 50 E. 86th Street where there will be a performance and signing of the CD SOMETHING ROTTEN at 4 p.m. Appearing will be Brian d'Arcy James, Christian Borle, John Cariani, and Heide Blickenstaff.

cgshubow@broadwayworld.com