Once

Ian Lake and Trish Lindström in ONCE ©2015. Photo by Cylla von Tiedemann.

Guy meets girl: this may sound like the plot of your average love story but ONCE is not at all average. Based on the critically acclaimed film of the same name, and featuring music by the brilliant Glen Hansard and Markéta Irglova, including the 2007 Oscar-winning song “Falling Slowly,” ONCE follows an unexpected romance between an Irish street musician (Ian Lake) and a Czech immigrant (Trish Lindström) who are drawn together by their shared love of music. A vacuum repair man by day, Guy has all but given up on his music and on finding love, until Girl comes along and inspires him to dream again. Over the course of one fateful week, their friendship and collaboration evolves into a powerful love story.

Unlike many musical theatre productions that have fantastical or extravagant elements, there is a simplicity to ONCE. The pub setting is cozy, bringing an air of familiarity to the show and the story. It feels like it could be any local pub and that the Guy and Girl could be anyone.

ONCE features a golden, all-Canadian cast of actors/musicians. Every performer, aside from the adorable Scarlett Rose Bildfell (6 years old), play their own instruments, with some such as Brandon McGibbon (Švec), Nathan Carroll (Andrej) and Brendan Wall (Eamon) playing four or five each. And the music of ONCE is itself a character—heartbreaking and uplifting. The haunting a capella "Gold" is stunning, “Leave” and “Say It To me Now” are raw and emotional, while numbers like “Broken Hearted Hoover Fixer Sucker Guy” and “Abandoned in Bandon” bring lightness and laughter to the show.

Get to the pub, er, theatre early to enjoy a pint or spirit on stage, where you’ll be treated to traditional pub music and can take a moment to appreciate the beauty and heritage of the Ed Mirivish Theatre.

Don't miss the chance to see ONCE, on stage until June 28, 2015 at the Ed Mirvish Theatre. Visit mirvish.com for more information and to buy tickets.