I remember when my son On the Town Junior brought the movie “Once” home to watch with Mr. On the Town and me.
The senior family members had never heard of the 2007 Irish film that had gained a cult following, but we trusted Junior and loaded it into the DVD player.
The movie, starring songwriters and performers Glen Hansard and Marketa Irglova was a tortured love story intertwined with a ballad-like sound track that was, in a word, beautiful.
The movie went on to win an Oscar for the song “Falling Slowly.” Fast forward to 2012 where the adapted stage musical of the same name won eight Tony Awards, including the coveted Tony for Best Musical.
That musical is now playing at The Buell Theatre through May 18, and is well worth seeing. If you go, drop your pre-conceived notions of an “Oklahoma” or “The Sound of Music”-esque performance with a linear plot development dotted with toe-tapping songs.
Instead, every actor doubles as a dancer and musician with somewhat complicated story lines. The play starts with an audience-participation hoedown with every instrument played by the actors (even the accordion).
The dance moves are of the modern dance genre as if taken straight from Martha Graham‘s book of choreography. The musical is slower than you’re probably used to, but stick with it. What unfolds is a captivating story of an Irish musician looking for a record contract in the United States, and the woman who supports his dream.
For tickets to “Once,” call 303-893-4100 or visit www.denvercenter.org.
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