Holy Crap! ONCE!

If you haven't already purchased a ticket to "Once," and you expect to catch this after the word of mouth circulates I have two words for you: good luck.

This is a very, very special show. It is simple, beautiful and takes your heart for a ride. The book is one of the best for a musical I've heard in a while. The score is gorgeous, gorgeous, gorgeous! The orchestrations are lush (everyone plays an instrument, and damn is this ensemble talented!).

Cristin Milioti is playing "GIRL" and is giving a terrifyingly brilliant performance. She is an unwavering force, complete with Czech accent and never cracking a smile the entire 2 hours. She has an act 2 heartbreaking solo at the piano that will put her smack in the middle of the Tony battle if this transfers to Broadway. I hope to be making a return trip and when I do I hope to be able to stagedoor and tell her face to face how wonderful I think her performance is.

Steve Kazee is also extremely strong as "GUY." This act one number he sang in the bank sent chills all over. Strikingly handsome and charming, he is such a natural in this role you feel as if he isn't acting at all but truly is this character in real life. Often a performance of restraint, you can sense all the feelings brewing below the surface that don't need to communicated with words.

I could honestly write a paragraph of praise for each member of the ensemble. David Patrick Kelly, you broke my heart in your second act scene. Anne Nathan is dependable as always and Elizabeth Davis reminded me of Laura Benanti from Women of the Verge.

As if this show didn't have enough going for it, John Tiffany has directed it with fluidity and flair. He's another one who would have an easy time finding Tony love on a transfer. (BTW, speaking of directors, had a celebrity sighting of Joe Mantello in the audience!)

Bravo and congrats to all involved! This truly reminds me of why I keep going to theater night after night. Heaven help the show I see after this because I have a feeling it will only pale in comparison.

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I honestly don't think I could be more excited for this show. Have not heard anything but raves. I hope it lives up to the expectations. The 18th can't come soon enough!

The January Slaughter has yet to begin. (Mostly because it isn't even December yet!) Every year a big number of shows announce their closing for the month of January. I'd be suprised if something doesn't open up -- or several somethings.

Whizzer, I love your enthusiasm for the show and look forward to seeing it (have tix for near the end of the very short run!) -- but I need to ask one question: What the heck does the fact that the character doesn't smile such an amazing feat to you? I just thought it was an odd thing to seem to praise.

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I adore this production. The cast is perfect. The direction is perfect. All of it magic. Its going to be a big hit.

I'll second the thoughts on Milloti. As someone who has also never seen the film, what she brings to this role is so unique and special it's ironically almost impossible for me to imagine anyone else playing the role.

Beyond the qualities Whizzer describes (which I agree with) Milloti also has the rare gift of transcendence. She's ethereal, even in her seriousness - a truly angelic energy as a character who could almost be considered an angel-sent for the the 'Guy' who is desperately searching for a life raft.

After I saw this musical (Wednesday night) I wanted to rush home and watch the movie; but since then I've changed my mind. This musical, on stage - as it is, is the perfect ONCE for me. I don't need to see the movie and have that comparison. This show is special just as it is.

It was taken out because they aren't trying to duplicate the film on stage and aren't trying to compete with the memory people (like you who loved the film) have for it.

I imagine if the time comes that I see the film, I will find it slight compared to my experience of the play. To each its own, but isn't it wonderful this story can be moving to audiences who discover it regardless of the medium?

katurian, you are unable though (and I'm sure you are the first to admit this) to separate the characters and their journeys from those laid out in the film version. What you are saying didn't work for you is based purely on speculation because of what you saw in the film.

As someone who hasn't seen the film, none of what you describe as having missed matters - the musical was completely successful on its own terms - I felt NOTHING was lacking in the central relationship. Nothing. I was completely captivated by the relationship from start to finish and didn't come away feeling intrinsically that what those characters really needed was 'another song' - to flesh out their back stories or their relationship.

You can listen to it on your ipod on your way home from the theatre.

EDIT: Okay I listened to "Lies" - and I understand why they cut it. Musically, its progression is similar to "Following Slowly" and I think including it in the musical would have potentially weakened the impact that "Falling Slowly" has in the stage version (I understand "Falling" is used in slightly different context on stage, and to highly emotional results I might add.)

Updated On: 11/28/11 at 10:48 AM

Many, many thanks to all the detailed reporting back on this. I'm beyond excited.

Does this have a Broadway theater yet? Is the transfer still happening in February?

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Ugh. I was originally planning to go the 18th but because I'm a BIG DUMB IDIOT I waited and now it's sold out

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Jordan- the shows on Sunday nights at NYTW are almost always only $20 (cash at the box office). These performances are normally the first to sell out. Perhaps the person who paid $25 didn't go to the box office and had to pay service fees.

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Yes, thanks to everyone for the reports, pro and (occasionally) con. I've never heard of the movie, but I'll look for it and hope the stage version makes its way to the West Coast.

You will never hear me say that a show should include x, y, or z to appease fans of the film. If your only criticism is that the musical didn't include some moments you like in the movie than there really isn't too much to debate. The movie also didn't provide the singular experience of seeing and hearing this story performed live. They must be treated as totally separate entities as there really isn't a fair evaluation between two different art forms.

As already stated earlier - I really thought the book was stellar and unique. I think an attempt to further 'flesh' out this strange, ambiguous romance would be to sentimentalize it. I'm sure the extra music helped depict, what I assume was a mostly visual/aural experience of the story on film. But on stage, this adaptation was completely satisfying exactly as it is.

Updated On: 11/28/11 at 02:22 PM