Review by E Mountfort
I have to confess that I am not a big fan of musicals. I understand why students like The Lion King (maybe because of the film) and it does seem to be the case that if a play doesn’t have music it’s boring. I have bitter memories of this.
So it was with trepidation that I accepted an invitation to see Once (and I had never heard of it – oh the shame!). But – and you know it is coming reader – I was more than pleasantly surprised.
I like to see a packed theatre and the Phoenix certainly was, with people of my certain age. So will students like it, and what can it teach them?
Well the story for starters: Based on the film made in 2007 on a shoestring budget, this is a classic boy meets girl tale – but one forged by music. When miserable Dublin busker ‘Guy’ meets a ‘Girl’ she pulls him out of his gloom encouraging him to write songs with her leading to an unexpected love between them. We were lucky enough to see Ronan Keating in the main role and he was a big surprise – who sheds his clean-cut boyband persona for the grown-up musician he is.
What else? Well, the music is truly wonderful and was all new to me (having not seen the film) and it’s a fluid part of the play rather than thrown in on corny cue. I must confess, the moving, heart-warming ending did bring a lump to my throat.
Clearly, I am turning into an old softie! What will this give to your students? Well a big message: that musicals do not have to be in your face with jazz hands. Instead, music can, if you like, be its own character in a play – with all the different moods and nuances that speak louder than words.
Great! Give it a whirl, maybe more than once.