Tiffany here (on co-op), and I’m pumped to continue exploring the Great White Way’s sights and sounds with you!
This time, we will be exploring Broadway’s unconventional face—quiet, intimate, tear-jerking.
Need another hint? This musical also took away eight Tony Awards in 2012, including—but not limited to—“Best Musical”, “Best Direction of a Musical”, and “Best Orchestrations.”
This is epitomized by Once, a 2012 production that is based off an Irish movie of the same name. The music and lyrics in the film were written by Glen Hansard and Markéta Irglová, both of whom also starred in the leading roles—simply known as “Guy” and “Girl.”
The two characters’ lack of identity further allows the audience to enter their world. Guy and Girl are more than characters: they represent us when we are going through a break up, starting to fall in love with somebody, or dealing with a relationship that has come across some bumps along the road. Listening to the cast recording alone, you empathize with their predicament and bawl your eyes out for the challenges they face.
Once is a rather unconventional musical. The staging is simple, the orchestration is minimal, and even the choreography is limited compared to most shows.
I saw it at the Ed Mirvish Theatre in Toronto back in 2015, and I absolutely loved it; however, my loyalty still lies with the original Broadway cast’s rendition—there is no replacing Steve Kazee and Cristin Milioti.
The first time that I listened to Kazee’s rendition of “Leave”, Guy’s heartfelt ballad that describes his unrequited love for his now ex-girlfriend (who had cheated on him), a little part of me died for his character. The heartbreak, vulnerability, and frustration in his voice are so genuine while Kazee is also jamming on his guitar—did I mention that Guy’s character is also in charge of playing the acoustic guitar throughout the show?
And then there is Kazee and Milioti’s oh-so natural chemistry in their duet of “Falling Slowly.” Not only is “Falling Slowly” a beautiful number—in fact, it won the Academy Award in 2007 for Best Original Song—but they capture its essence: it describes an innocent, pure outlook on love and romantic relationships. Even though it portrays a naïve perspective about romance, it is how most couples start out—and can only hope to maintain as their relationship progresses and evolves. For most, however, that is often easier said than done…
Kazee and Milioti nail their solos, too, and it appears as though the two compete to see who can make the audience shed the most tears. One of Guy’s feature numbers, “Sleeping”, is bittersweet—he cannot imagine life without Girl when he moves to New York to pursue his dream of achieving a career in music. Girl illuminates the stage with her heartbreaking rendition of “The Hill” when she finally confronts her newfound feelings for Guy. Something about Girl’s mere piano in the background implies solitude and turns up the waterworks evermore.
Like all great Broadway musicals, Once has some fantastic ensemble numbers, which can always differentiate great musicals from the good ones. Special shout-out goes to “Gold”, which Guy had previously dedicated to his ex-girlfriend and now sang to Girl instead. It begins with Guy on his guitar, and gradually, the rest of the dancer-musician ensemble joins him—a glorious moment that celebrates the spirit of genuine love.
With little dialogue in this show, it’s important to keep in mind that one must listen closely to the lyrics; that is where you would familiarize yourself with the characters’ personalities.
Once reaches out to our inner romantic and entices it to come out, if only just for an hour and a half. No matter how jaded all of us are, one cannot help but be moved by this wonderful piece of art. Even though love is a recurring theme in most musicals—who doesn’t appreciate an element of romance in a story?—there is something magical about Guy and Girl’s love for each other: it healed both of them and gave them the hope that each needed to move on with their lives.
Though some audiences may find Once rather lackluster compared to other musicals that Broadway has to offer, a certain type of audience can appreciate simplicity as its distinct voice. It has no pretense and stays true to the spirit of the story. It exemplifies how we should approach love and our loved ones: treasure and appreciate each other while we still can in the case where separation is inevitable.
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