Liverpool Empire Theatre – until 25 January 2020
Reviewed by Carla Whittaker
5*****
What a delight it was to be able to watch Once the Musical (based on John Carney’s 2017 Indie Film) at the Liverpool Empire Theatre. A show which I had been looking forward to watching for such a long time, given that Once is one of my personal favourite films, and particularly as it was showing at the popular Liverpool Empire Theatre, a theatre renowned for its traditional décor, intimate seating, and as always, exceptional staff and hospitality.
Once the Musical tells the uplifting love story of Guy, played by the incredible Daniel Healy, who works in his dad’s shop as a hoover repairer, and part time as a guitarist busker in Dublin. Guy start as a cold guy, emotionally detached from society due to a broken heart as the girl he wrote songs about leaves him for America, and due to disappointment of lack of music success. By chance, this changes when he meets a young Czech single mother played in this by Emma Lucia.
The story unfolds over five days as the audience follow their journey over these days as they unexpectedly bond and fall in love with each other over a shared love of music. Despite cultural differences Girl encourages Guy to record his own music in order to mend his broken heart. With her realising slowly, along the way, that she has fallen for him herself. All this is set on stage in a traditional Dublin Bar, accompanied by joyous music and lyrics as originally sung by Glen Hansard and Marketa Irglova.
The music, of Glen Hansard and Marketa Irglova are frequently on my personal playlist at home, and within this production; Daniel, Emma and the rest of the cast performed the Irish inflicted songs/music faultless with beautiful tones and passion; it really did come from the heart. Emphasised by the variety of musical instruments, expertly played by the cast breathing refreshing life into both the instruments and characters – all shining at some part or another.
The chemistry between Daniel and Emma on the stage was sensational, and very real, developing from the first encounter with their likeability, warmth and humour, not to mention the hair-raising vocals which left me with a tear in my eye, particularly during the duet of “Falling Slowly”.
Francesca Jayne’s thoughtful choreography expands to the music but does not overwhelm and is a great contribution to the atmosphere of the production.
Dan Bottomley scores repeated laughs as the music shop owner Billy with a knack for karate and the seductive manipulator Reza played by Ellen Chivers which has the audience in stitches laughing with the innuendo’s and humour.
I do not think I have ever seen a musical production quite like Once the Musical; which was realistically elegant, with the music binding the story together beautifully, leaving me with a refreshed perspective on priorities. It was emotive, and left me with a tear trickling down my cheek, and a lump in my throat due to the emotion in the room.
I fell completely head over heels in love with the film Once, and now, I have fallen in love with Once the Musical, I am sure it will unlikely be my only time watching, as now I want to see it over and over again.
Once the Musical is playing at the Liverpool Empire Theatre until Saturday 25th January 2020, and will continue touring.