If you love music, if you like music, if you heard music one random Tuesday and didn’t hate it, you should make your way to the Schuster Center between now and January 24. Run, skip, interpretive dance your way there, just do it.
The Victoria Theatre Association has brought to Dayton a story of love and music and the way they intertwine in the complicated lives of a Guy and a Girl. Eight time Tony winner, Once The Musical, stormed into town on Tuesday (barely – due to travel delays!) an kept the audience in the Schuster Center captivated from the first note to the last.
On our way to our seats, the usher mentioned, “don’t forget to go on stage and have a drink at the bar”. What? I thought surely this was an error. I was wrong. On stage, before the show there was a raucous party underway. Live music being played, singing and dancing, drinks being poured, and you were encouraged to join in the fun!
The scene was set in Dublin, Ireland with a ragtag group of energetic musicians. As the first act progressed, the Guy stood out with his melancholy songs. We were then intoduced to the Girl, an immigrant who saw something special in this sad musician. From there, we witness their complicated lives unfolding and their relationship growing. Or not growing. Maybe just changing. But their story was beautiful and their songs together are both haunting and hopeful.
There were some scenes that reminded you of a mix of Mumford & Sons + Fiddler On The Roof + Bruno Mars combined. Weird combination? Maybe, but it worked. It worked magically.
We had the chance to chat with some familiar faces after the show. This is what they had to say:
Josh Stucky
I have to say, it’s music with mass appeal. I’d see Once, twice!
Jonathan McNeal
You don’t need to be a fan of the incredible film to fall in love with the great voices and musicians of Once!
Sunni Russo
We thought it was genius the way they handled the set changes and how the cast was also the musical accompaniment and played along the sides of the stage when they were not in the scene.
All in all, it was a fun night. I had no expectations going in, and although I had heard that Once was fantastic, I simply wasn’t familiar with the story before Tuesday night. It took the chill off this wintery week and I am still singing the songs today (fortunately for those around me, the songs are in my head and not out loud).
You can catch the Tony Award winning Once nightly through Sunday Jan 24th with 2pm matinee’s on Saturday and Sunday at the Schuster Center. Tickets range from $39-$92 and can be purchased at Ticket Center Stage
