Twice for once

By Rodger Hara  (May 2016 Celtic Connection, Denver CO)

The people of Denver have a reputation for loving a good musical play.  The presence of over 30 Irish pubs and 50 Irish/Celtic bands in Denver speaks to Denverite’s love of the drink with the music.  Put a musical play in a pub with a band into Denver and you have a winner.   “once” is more than just a good musical; it is the winner of eight Tony Awards in 2012 and is based on the motion picture that won 21 of the 30 awards around the world for which it had been nominated in 2007-2008 including the Best Original Song Oscar for “Falling Down Slow” written by Glen Hansard and Markéta Irglová – and Denver audiences have a chance to see it again.

Written and directed by John Carney, the film told the real-life love story of how Hansard, a Dublin busker, and Irglová, an immigrant met, fell in love and literally made beautiful music together writing all the music for the film.  Adapted for the stage by English director John Tiffany and Dublin writer Enda Walsh in 2011, the play won eight of the record-breaking eleven Tony awards for which it had been nominated.  The play ran Off and On-Broadway, in Dublin and on London’s West End from 2011-2015 and played in Denver on its 2014 tour.

On a spare stage that looks like a Dublin pub (in which the audience can purchase a pint before the show and during intermission), the multi-talented cast acts, sings, dances and plays a variety of instruments that tell the story of a tumultuous week in the lives of “the Guy” and “the Girl”.  Denver theatre-goers will again be able to see for themselves that once deserved the eight Tony awards it received.  once plays at the Ellie Caulkins Opera House in the Denver Performing Arts Complex May 24-29; performance times are Tuesday-Sunday at 7:30 PM and 2 PM on Saturday and Sunday.  Tickets for the Thursday night performance include a cocktail and a performance by the Denver Irish band Avourneen.  The matinee show on Saturday is an accessible performance with ASL, audio description and open captioning available. Tickets start at $30:  information can be found and orders placed at www.denvercenter.org or call 303.893.4100, 800.641.1222 or TTY: 303.893.9582.