It's not rare that a show makes me cry. From sadness, or joy, or a just plain moving performance, if it's good, I cry. But only once in a while does a show move me to debilitating sobs once the curtain goes down. John Logan's Red on Broadway in 2010 and Sarah Ruhl's Eurydice at Second Stage in 2007 are two culprits. And now Once has joined the ranks.
I don't even know how to put into words how this show made me feel. I cried from the first note of "Falling Slowly" (the Academy Award winning song from the movie), straight through to the end. If you are familiar with the movie this show is based on, you may understand why. It is a beautiful, heart-breaking story with stunningly moving music. When I heard that they were making it into a musical, I was very worried that they would "Broadway-ify" it. Not that there's anything wrong with a good show tune, but the movie is just not like that. It's very folky and raw and real. Not much of a big Broadway show. But when I saw it Off-Broadway this fall at New York Theatre Workshop, I was beyond relieved, overjoyed really, at the outcome. The show captures the feel of the movie brilliantly. The direction is smart and funny and creative and beautiful. The entire cast is insanely talented, and its basically a big party up on stage. And that's just the pre-show concert! (Where you can also hop up on stage to purchase a beverage regionally appropriate to the setting of the play.) The show is just perfect, and I can't wait to see it again and again now that it has transfered to Broadway.
RUN AND SEE Once, now in previews and opening March 18th at the Bernard B. Jacobs Theatre on Broadway.
You can listen to the incredible cast recording (released March 13th) here.
UPDATE: AND CHECK OUT THE COOKIES I MADE THEM HERE!
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