REVIEW
✭✭✭✭✭ 5/5
Once the Musical
Cliffs Pavilion, Southend on Sea
13th – 18th January 2020
✭✭✭✭✭ 5/5
Once the Musical
Cliffs Pavilion, Southend on Sea
13th – 18th January 2020
I always regretted the fact that I never got around to seeing Once the Musical when it had its run in the West End. I turned to the film, which starred Glen Hansard and Markéta Irglová who both also composed and performed the original music for the film from which the stage musical was adapted. Their song, Falling Slowly, from the picture gained them the 2008 Academy Award for Best Original Song and in 2011 the stage adaption (written by Enda Walsh, with Hansard and Irglová providing music and lyrics) hit Broadway and became a huge success not just in the States but in the West End too.
Once the Musical has thankfully returned with just a few subtle changes to give audiences across the UK and Ireland the opportunity to discover this delightful piece of musical theatre.
It’s a simple enough 'girl meets guy' kind of story with the heart of the tale set within a pub in the Irish city of Dublin and with music at its core. This is a story that has the ability to completely draw you in feeling every beat as if you were right there in the pub, enjoying the craic. Guy is about to give up on his musical dreams as his girlfriend has left him to move to New York. Girl, who is from the Czech Republic, hears him singing his song of unrequited love and makes it her mission to make him realise that his music is worth carrying on for. If he fixes her vacuum cleaner for free she will play him piano music to return the favour. “Are you serious?” he asks her. “I’m from Czech Republic, we’re always serious…” she replies.
The whole of the performance is set within the pub and the actor/musicians who are on stage practically all of the time are brilliantly choreographed, bringing life to each new scene and song. The musicianship in this ensemble is outstanding and they are clearly a very tight team. You can sense that they are aware of being part of something special here and director, Peter Rowe, has given them good reason to.
Once the Musical has thankfully returned with just a few subtle changes to give audiences across the UK and Ireland the opportunity to discover this delightful piece of musical theatre.
It’s a simple enough 'girl meets guy' kind of story with the heart of the tale set within a pub in the Irish city of Dublin and with music at its core. This is a story that has the ability to completely draw you in feeling every beat as if you were right there in the pub, enjoying the craic. Guy is about to give up on his musical dreams as his girlfriend has left him to move to New York. Girl, who is from the Czech Republic, hears him singing his song of unrequited love and makes it her mission to make him realise that his music is worth carrying on for. If he fixes her vacuum cleaner for free she will play him piano music to return the favour. “Are you serious?” he asks her. “I’m from Czech Republic, we’re always serious…” she replies.
The whole of the performance is set within the pub and the actor/musicians who are on stage practically all of the time are brilliantly choreographed, bringing life to each new scene and song. The musicianship in this ensemble is outstanding and they are clearly a very tight team. You can sense that they are aware of being part of something special here and director, Peter Rowe, has given them good reason to.
Once is a beautiful story of real people with real issues and there is always a feeling that this scenario could be happening anywhere, not just in Dublin. However, it is the essence of the Irish culture and musical traditions that really give this musical its heart. It has a traditional element and yet a contemporary feel to the music which is timeless in its appeal. There are some gorgeous songs in the show and it’s not too long before we are treated to Falling Slowly, beautifully sung by Daniel Healy and Emma Lucia who play Guy and Girl, with the ensemble literally physically breathing life into the number with some wonderful movement and instrument playing. Watch them.
This really is an amazing ensemble piece and there are some cracking numbers from these skillful musicians. I loved the Czech song, Ej Pada Pada Rosicka and If You Want Me sung by Girl, Reza (Ellen Chivers) and Ex-Girlfriend (Rosalind Ford) which was hauntingly beautiful with some lovely choreography. A special mention also to Robyn Elwell who played a very cute, Ivonka and belongs to the Singer Stage School in Leigh on Sea.
The Bank Manager (Samuel Martin) from Cork put in a grand comedy turn in Abandoned in Bandon which also brings me to note that there are also many laughs to be had in this show. Dan Bottomley as Billy the music store manager and Svec played by Lloyd Gorman have some brilliant laugh-out-loud comedic moments.
This really is an amazing ensemble piece and there are some cracking numbers from these skillful musicians. I loved the Czech song, Ej Pada Pada Rosicka and If You Want Me sung by Girl, Reza (Ellen Chivers) and Ex-Girlfriend (Rosalind Ford) which was hauntingly beautiful with some lovely choreography. A special mention also to Robyn Elwell who played a very cute, Ivonka and belongs to the Singer Stage School in Leigh on Sea.
The Bank Manager (Samuel Martin) from Cork put in a grand comedy turn in Abandoned in Bandon which also brings me to note that there are also many laughs to be had in this show. Dan Bottomley as Billy the music store manager and Svec played by Lloyd Gorman have some brilliant laugh-out-loud comedic moments.
Emma Lucia brings a nicely embodied positivity and quirky wit to Girl, which endears, and she also delivers outstanding vocals - The Hill really hits deep. Daniel too, gives so much to his performance, together with some excellent guitar playing and vocals. Emma and Daniel, and the rest of the cast for that matter, may not be household names but this is the absolute proof in the pudding that brilliant performances do not need a celebrity to make a show good. The perfect A Cappella harmonies of Gold induced a complete goosebump moment for me and you could have almost heard a pin drop in the Southend Cliffs Pavilion audience.
This is a story with heart and hope. It is a story of two people in love who we want to be together but who are forced to make choices with their heads and not their hearts. It is a story that will reach out and resonate.
Once the Musical has a whole combination of emotions to ride and the build up to the ending is as compelling and heart-warming as it is heart-breaking and I am so glad that I've finally got to see such a wonderful piece of theatre.
Once really isn’t enough - I think I may have to come and see it again.
Review: Kim Tobin
This is a story with heart and hope. It is a story of two people in love who we want to be together but who are forced to make choices with their heads and not their hearts. It is a story that will reach out and resonate.
Once the Musical has a whole combination of emotions to ride and the build up to the ending is as compelling and heart-warming as it is heart-breaking and I am so glad that I've finally got to see such a wonderful piece of theatre.
Once really isn’t enough - I think I may have to come and see it again.
Review: Kim Tobin
Adam Spiegel and Robert Bartner present
The New Wolsey Theatre, Ipswich and Queen’s Theatre, Hornchurch production of
We interview Daniel Healy & Emma Lucia
the stars of
ONCE
the multi award-winning Broadway and West End musical
comes to Southend for the first time
playing at the
Cliffs Pavilion, Southend on Sea from 13th – 18th January 2020
The New Wolsey Theatre, Ipswich and Queen’s Theatre, Hornchurch production of
We interview Daniel Healy & Emma Lucia
the stars of
ONCE
the multi award-winning Broadway and West End musical
comes to Southend for the first time
playing at the
Cliffs Pavilion, Southend on Sea from 13th – 18th January 2020
Southend Theatre Scene were invited to join the cast of Once and watch them in rehearsal at their studios in London's East End. We also caught up with Daniel Healy and Emma Lucia who told us how rehearsals have been going, what it was like singing Falling Slowly together for the first time and what they are looking forward to on the tour. Daniel also tells us how a chance tweet resulted in him becoming Ronan Keating's writing partner and band member!
Check out the interview below!
Check out the interview below!
Below: Check out our footage from our afternoon watching the cast of Once in rehearsal
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New recording of Falling Slowly released
introducing Daniel Healy and Emma Lucia
as the multi award-winning Broadway and West End musical Once
heads to Southend!
introducing Daniel Healy and Emma Lucia
as the multi award-winning Broadway and West End musical Once
heads to Southend!
A new recording is released today of the Academy Award-winning song Falling Slowly, introducing Daniel Healy as Guy and Emma Lucia as Girl. They will lead the cast of the first UK Tour of award-winning musical Once, which comes to Southend’s Cliffs Pavilion next year from Monday 13 to Saturday 18 January 2020.
Written by Glen Hansard and Markéta Irglová, Falling Slowly won the Academy Award for Best Original Song, and features in both the 2007 film and the musical.
Daniel said of the song: “At its core it’s very simple, but goes on this beautiful soaring journey. It starts small then builds into this beautiful crescendo. To a certain extent it is open, ambiguous and up for interpretation. It could mean anything to anyone. That’s what I love about it and I think that’s what most people, even if they don’t realise it, love about it.”
Emma added: “This song is so special because it’s the first time ‘Guy’ and ‘Girl’ realise that they understand each other; they have a special connection when they make music together. Music has always and will always connect people in a way words sometimes can’t. It’s definitely one of my favourite moments in the whole show, it gives me goose bumps every time.”
Written by Glen Hansard and Markéta Irglová, Falling Slowly won the Academy Award for Best Original Song, and features in both the 2007 film and the musical.
Daniel said of the song: “At its core it’s very simple, but goes on this beautiful soaring journey. It starts small then builds into this beautiful crescendo. To a certain extent it is open, ambiguous and up for interpretation. It could mean anything to anyone. That’s what I love about it and I think that’s what most people, even if they don’t realise it, love about it.”
Emma added: “This song is so special because it’s the first time ‘Guy’ and ‘Girl’ realise that they understand each other; they have a special connection when they make music together. Music has always and will always connect people in a way words sometimes can’t. It’s definitely one of my favourite moments in the whole show, it gives me goose bumps every time.”
Daniel Healy and Emma Lucia return to the roles of ‘Guy’ and ‘Girl’ after receiving critical and audience acclaim in the production’s premiere last year at the New Wolsey Theatre, Ipswich and Queen’s Theatre, Hornchurch. Daniel Healy is a singer-songwriter, musician and actor, who has co-written songs for multi-platinum artist Ronan Keating including the single Breathe, which topped the BBC Radio 2 Playlist. Theatre credits include Backbeat and Once, both in the West End. Emma Lucia made her professional debut as Marilyn and understudying Carole King in the UK Tour of Beautiful, before taking on the role of Girl in Once.
Based on the critically acclaimed and much-loved film, Once tells the uplifting yet yearning story of two lost souls - a Dublin street busker and a Czech musician - who unexpectedly fall in love. Following their relationship across five short days, big changes happen to both of them in little ways. Celebrated for its original score including the Academy Award-winning song Falling Slowly, Once is a spell-binding and uplifting story of hopes and dreams.
Once embarks on its first major UK tour after acclaimed runs on Broadway and in the West End, and having won awards across the world including the Academy Award for Best Original Song, a Grammy for Best Musical Theatre Album, eight Tony Awards and an Olivier Award for Outstanding Achievement in Music.
Once is directed by Peter Rowe with set and costume design by Libby Watson, musical supervision by Ben Goddard, choreography by Francesca Jaynes, lighting design by Mark Dymock, sound design by James Cook, projection design by Peter Hazelwood and orchestrations by Martin Lowe. Casting is by Debbie O’Brien.
Based on the cult 2007 Irish indie feature, originally shot on a micro-budget of just $160,000, Once premiered at the New York Theatre Workshop in 2011 before transferring to Broadway in 2012. There it won eight Tony Awards including Best Musical, the Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Musical and the Grammy Award for Best Musical Theater Album. Productions have since opened all over the world, including the West End production in 2013 which received the Olivier Award for Outstanding Achievement in Music.
Once has a Book by award-winning Irish playwright and screenwriter Enda Walsh, and Music & Lyrics by Academy Award winning Glen Hansard and Markéta Irglová who, for Falling Slowly, won the Oscar for Best Original Song. It is based on the motion picture Written and Directed by John Carney. The Original Production Concept is by John Tiffany.
Performed by arrangement with Music Theatre International (Europe) Limited.
www.OnceTheMusicalOnStage.com
Facebook /OnceTheMusicalUK
Twitter @OnceTheMusicalUK
Cliffs Pavilion, Station Road, Southend on Sea Essex SS0 7RA
www.thecliffspavilion.co.uk
Box Office 01702 351135
Based on the critically acclaimed and much-loved film, Once tells the uplifting yet yearning story of two lost souls - a Dublin street busker and a Czech musician - who unexpectedly fall in love. Following their relationship across five short days, big changes happen to both of them in little ways. Celebrated for its original score including the Academy Award-winning song Falling Slowly, Once is a spell-binding and uplifting story of hopes and dreams.
Once embarks on its first major UK tour after acclaimed runs on Broadway and in the West End, and having won awards across the world including the Academy Award for Best Original Song, a Grammy for Best Musical Theatre Album, eight Tony Awards and an Olivier Award for Outstanding Achievement in Music.
Once is directed by Peter Rowe with set and costume design by Libby Watson, musical supervision by Ben Goddard, choreography by Francesca Jaynes, lighting design by Mark Dymock, sound design by James Cook, projection design by Peter Hazelwood and orchestrations by Martin Lowe. Casting is by Debbie O’Brien.
Based on the cult 2007 Irish indie feature, originally shot on a micro-budget of just $160,000, Once premiered at the New York Theatre Workshop in 2011 before transferring to Broadway in 2012. There it won eight Tony Awards including Best Musical, the Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Musical and the Grammy Award for Best Musical Theater Album. Productions have since opened all over the world, including the West End production in 2013 which received the Olivier Award for Outstanding Achievement in Music.
Once has a Book by award-winning Irish playwright and screenwriter Enda Walsh, and Music & Lyrics by Academy Award winning Glen Hansard and Markéta Irglová who, for Falling Slowly, won the Oscar for Best Original Song. It is based on the motion picture Written and Directed by John Carney. The Original Production Concept is by John Tiffany.
Performed by arrangement with Music Theatre International (Europe) Limited.
www.OnceTheMusicalOnStage.com
Facebook /OnceTheMusicalUK
Twitter @OnceTheMusicalUK
Cliffs Pavilion, Station Road, Southend on Sea Essex SS0 7RA
www.thecliffspavilion.co.uk
Box Office 01702 351135