Mixed Review of "ONCE" in the Times.

[Owen22]

Posted: 12/6/11 at 11:16pm

He's such an odd, odd man, maybe he genuinely didn't love it, but a part of me thinks there is a subtext to Brantley's review that says, "How DARE they already decide on a transfer without my approval!!??"

Updated On: 12/6/11 at 11:16 PM

[Copperfield2]

Posted: 12/6/11 at 11:18pm

The Daily News, Bloomberg, Newsday, NY Post, Theatermania, and other reviews (except the Village Voice) that I've read all extremely positive, praising the actors, direction, stage movement, but especially the music.

[Michael Bennett]

Posted: 12/6/11 at 11:25pm

Brantley tends to have a bias against any show that even hints at unabashed sentamentality (not a romantic is our boy Ben). ONCE also doesn't have a knockout diva performance at the center of it (one of his personal favorite recipes for a hit). I still think it will become the word of mouth hit of the season and will win the Tony for Best Musical.

[CurtainPullDowner]

Posted: 12/6/11 at 11:34pm

That review was all over the place, I'd be intrigued, then let down. It actually has genuine pull quotes as he did like things.
But for general tone, after I read his stuff, I go back and read the first and last lines. the first sets up his verbage and the last is usually his true opinion.
In a so far week season, this looks like the Tiffany hit.

[Copperfield2]

Posted: 12/6/11 at 11:46pm

Brantley did like the music and this is a musical.
I think the creators are going to work on this some more. I expect it will be even better once it opens on Broadway.

I'm not sure how they'll do the bar atmosphere on Broadway since those upstairs won't be entirely part of the fun.

[Play Esq.]

Posted: 12/6/11 at 11:57pm

Put your leading lady in a new wig (and, ideally, a new dress) before the transfer and Brantley will come around.

Just you wait and see
Updated On: 12/6/11 at 11:57 PM

[Katurian2]

Posted: 12/7/11 at 9:34am

I think his points made perfect sense, and while he spent a little long going on about the film, he's really doing a favor and pointing out a serious weakness that could quite effectively be fixed pre-Broadway. He's completely accurate that Girl was a bit of the Manic Pixie Dream Girl in this production, and God knows we do NOT need to continue that cliche any longer. He didn't write anything about the show that makes it beyond saving. I'm glad he put his points in, and I'd be even gladder if the creative team takes them into account before the Broadway move.

[Ed_Mottershead]

Posted: 12/7/11 at 11:31am

Why do people start talking about ANY show being the Tony winner this early in the season? By my count, there's still Ghost, Nice Work If You Can Get It, Newsies, Rebecca and anything else that comes in the last minute to consider. Start talking about Tony sometime in March, when the basis for making such predictions has some validity.

[Copperfield2]

Posted: 12/7/11 at 11:42am

I seriously doubt Ghost is going to win the Tony for best musical or even be nominated. The show is destined to be an expensive flop in New York.

I'm not sure what to make of Rebecca either. Since I am unfamiliar with the composer of the score I will have to wait to hear it to pass judgement.

One thing Once does have in its favor is good music. And that's important for a musical!
Updated On: 12/7/11 at 11:42 AM

[newintown]

Posted: 12/7/11 at 11:50am

I thought it was a sweet, if somewhat limp, show, inextricably linked to a small downtown space. Maybe lacking in vitality or muscle.

On Broadway, it would disappear like Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson. Even if it took the Booth.

[RippedMan]

Posted: 12/7/11 at 12:52pm

I don't think I'd consider this an "expensive flop." I'm surprised they picked the Jacobs though, as that theater always feels so big to me even though it's not. Why not pick up the Booth since "Cities" already has a closing date.

[whatever2]

Posted: 12/7/11 at 1:11pm

i generally like brantley's criticism, but this one baffles me -- he seems genuinely and excessively confused by the fact that he wasn't watching the movie ...

[Phantom of London]

Posted: 12/7/11 at 1:20pm

'One thing Once does have in its favor is good music. And that's important for a musical!'

That is the understatement of the century.

[newintown]

Posted: 12/7/11 at 1:23pm

Musicals with bad book seldom succeed (except for Lloyd Webber shows).

[themysteriousgrowl]

Posted: 12/7/11 at 1:23pm

Didn't ODC just become open-ended?

Or am I making things up again, Arnold?

Updated On: 12/7/11 at 01:23 PM

[MiracleElixir]

Posted: 12/7/11 at 3:08pm

I agree with every word of Brantley's review. Everything related to the music is pretty fantastic -- the songs, the performers, orchestrations, the dancing, interpretative hand-movements -- but the book is pretty dreadful and grasps for "comedy" at every moment which felt needy and audience-pandering. I wanted to fall in love, and kept cringing in between the musical moments.
Updated On: 12/7/11 at 03:08 PM

[MissErinLeigh]

Posted: 12/7/11 at 3:18pm

I never post here because I write the family theatre section for BroadwayWorld but I have to share my personal (just my personal) thoughts on this show: I saw it last night and I thought it was one of the best shows I've ever seen. I know I only post positive things so you can say "She likes everything" but the truth is that I see a lot of stuff that I don't post about because I don't post negative, and I've rarely commented on this board.

I thought Once was incredible and it deserves a Broadway run. I too am concerned about the show's ability to transfer into a Broadway house, not just because of the size of the space but because of the style. The NY Theatre Workshop's raw, downtown feel lends itself to the tone of the show and a glitzy, formal environment seems at odds with the world that the audience of ONCE is invited to visit. I mentioned this concern to the John Tiffany who looked me square in the eye and said, "Don't worry about that. That's what I do." After having spent the evening watching this genius director at work, I have full faith in his ability to make ONCE work in a Broadway house.

[themysteriousgrowl]

Posted: 12/7/11 at 3:22pm

Why in God's name would you reveal your identity?

[sskeats2]

Posted: 12/7/11 at 3:26pm

Here's the true lay of the land. And Brantley is almost alone at the bottom.

[Blockhead24]

Posted: 12/7/11 at 3:27pm

"Why not pick up the Booth since "Cities" already has a closing date."

Other Desert Cities is an open-ended run now.

[whatever2]

Posted: 12/7/11 at 4:56pm

If you've lived in Ireland (I have) or know the Irish (I do), those weren't "grasps" at comedy ... yes, some of the humor was predictable, but by no means all of it; the brush with which this aspect of the book is being painted is simply too broad.

[SporkGoddess]

Posted: 12/7/11 at 5:20pm

Wait, so in the musical Girl is a manic pixie dreamgirl? In the movie she was practically dysthymic.

[Copperfield2]

Posted: 12/7/11 at 5:24pm

Producers - I just corrected my post-- I think Ghost is going to be the expensive flop, not Once!


Updated On: 12/7/11 at 05:24 PM

[Copperfield2]

Posted: 12/7/11 at 5:32pm

I really think those attacking the book are exaggerating.

[themysteriousgrowl]

Posted: 12/7/11 at 5:44pm

Brantley's descriptions of her conjure memories of Natalie Portman in "Garden State," which makes me throw up bloody eyeballs, and I didn't even have any bloody eyeballs today.