Not To Be Missed: Once, the musical stage adaptation based on the 2008 Irish film, presented at the Bernard B Jacobs Theatre (242 West 45th Street) in New York City. One of the best things about Once is that the cast is also the orchestra. The set consists of a center stage bar with chairs lining stage left and right. Cast members simply step to the side of the stage and sit down when theyre not involved. They serve as the orchestra from these chairs, playing mostly acoustic instruments. The set is used before the show and at intermission as a working bar for theater patrons. I resisted the urge to purchase a $13 beer or a $20 wine but I was welcome to stand on stage amongst these talented men and women as they played several pre-show numbers. If youre a fan of Irish music, Once would be an excellent way to get your feet wet in the New York theater scene. This stage production is fantastic (as good or better than the movie) the acting is superb and the music is KILLER. A favorite of mine was David Patrick Kellys (he plays Guys father) poignant rendition of Raglan Road. After the show, most of the cast was readily accessible for a quick chat and an autograph outside of the theater. I was there for a Saturday matinee and it was funny; immediately after the show, the actors, clad quite informally, emerged from the stage door to the vocal delight of dozens of their admirers but after interacting briefly with the folks who chose to wait for them, they were quickly swallowed up by a sea of humanity, free to stroll anonymously through the hordes of tourists, most apparently opting for a quick snack before their evening performance. I was hoping to get a more substantial snack before the show at the Carnegie Deli but the line was unbelievable. Im finding that its best to avoid the tourist restaurants in and around Times Square and to instead walk to 9th Avenue and then up to the 50s & 60s where youll find countless, far superior eateries of every kind.
Posted on: Sun, 03 Aug 2014 15:43:52 +0000
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