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Dublin: 12 °C Saturday 25 May, 2013

Once wins rave reviews on Broadway

The musical version of the Oscar nominated movie Once has received critical acclaim and has even been tipped for Tony Award nominations.

Glen Hansard and Marketa Irglova who starred in the movie Once
Glen Hansard and Marketa Irglova who starred in the movie Once
Image: PA Archive/PA Images

THE BROADWAY VERSION of the acclaimed Irish film Once has received rave reviews from the critics. The small budget movie, which has been adapted for the stage, was a huge success with song ‘Falling Slowly’, written by Glen Hansard and Markéta Irglová, winning an Oscar.

Now the musical, adapted for the New York stage, is receiving the same warm welcome.  A New York Post critic says that the show “wins its standing ovations the old-fashioned way: with a love story, great songs, compelling characters and inventive stagecraft,” while The New York Times says the production “uses song and dance in a way I’ve never experienced in an American musical”.

The musical tells the story about an Irish busker and Czech immigrant who share a love for music.  Shot in just three weeks, boxofficemojo.com reports that the movie ended up pulling in $20 million worldwide. Now it seems the musical may receive the same success. The stage adaptation, which had its premiere on Sunday night, is directed by British director John Tiffany and choreographed by Steven Hoggett, who created the acclaimed Scottish theatre piece Black Watch. Several new songs have been added by Irglova and Hansard.

According to Reuters, when asked about possible Tony Award nominations Tiffany joked, “we don’t talk about that”, but he said, “I am so proud I have made the piece of work I wanted to make because you can’t always say that”.

Clip of the hit Broadway show Once -



(via newyorktheatreworkshop79/Youtube)

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Comments (13 Comments)

  • Once was a superb film – one of the best Irish films in a long time.

    Did you know there wasn’t a pint of Guinness to be seen or a word of politics to be heard? Fantastic!!

    I’m a big Frames fan so I’m biased. I have met loads of people who came to Dublin because they loved that film (the soundtrack was no.1 in South Korea for ages).

    It really put Dublin in a good light at a time when we really needed it. Fair play to Kearney, Hansard, Irglova et al.

    I wish them the very best with the musical – would love to go and see it.

    Reply
    • Floodzie
      I was referring to the song, Falling Slowly’,I think it’s awful. Sorry for having an opinion!

      Reply
    • Floodzie 20/03/12 #

      Opinions are verboten!! :-)

      I liked the song the first 400 times, but even a hardcore Frames fan like me found it grating after that.

      I prefer the version of Falling Slowly from the film (did you know most of the songs were performed live?)

      Why they felt the need to glam up such a good song with a band is a mystery to me – the piano and guitar were perfect and the performance in the film was amazing (IMHO).

      Reply
  • I would never begrudge success,good movie and i obviously am not the only one. I was living in Australia when it was realeased and a japanese girl showed it to me on her laptop. She said it was the best movie she ever saw, and has since came to Ireland because of the movie, she loved it here.

    Reply
  • Designed by Irish set/costume designer-Bob Crowley from cork!

    Reply
  • Haha jaysus lads, enough with the pessimism! Ye’re the ones that sound like moany shites…fair play for taking the film to the world’s biggest stage!

    Reply
  • mcbab 20/03/12 #

    Fantastic news. Well done to all concerned. Great to see a modern Irish play being successful instead of the usual old dreary stuff.

    Reply
  • I can’t wait to see this. The film is warm, funny, romantic and not a bit of Hollywood schmaltz in sight. Made me very proud when they performed at the oscars and won. Amazing feat to craft such a beautiful film on a small budget and in such a short time. As a dubliner away from home it makes me sentimental, despite all the crap going on with EU bailouts. Go on yerselves Glenn, Marketa et al. Hope you made a fortune with the rights!

    Reply
  • I’d rather stick forks in my eyeballs than pay to listen to that whiny shite, that said, eighty million people watched Kony2012 – before the writer and producer began jacking himself off in public – so I’m sure it will be a phenomenal success.

    Reply

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