"Once" recently celebrated it's 1st Birthday with a change of cast. This past year saw an incredibly talented group of actor/musicians embark on a journey together, a journey filled with high energy musical performance, a warming and light hearted comedy and emotionally loaded sincerity. The result; a family of performers whose incredible bond with both each other and their instruments led to the seamless and touching delivery of the most humbly magnificent production in the West End. The question is can the new cast keep the legacy going and chase these expectations?
Guided by remaining cast members Zrinka Cvitešić, Jez Unwin and Miria Parvin, the "Once" fledglings are in good hands. It's fair to say a cast needs time to bond and even more so with a production like "Once". The new cast are doing just that right now. They're discovering each other whilst exploring their roles which invites a whole new vision and perspective into the room. They're not trying to imitate their predecessors but instead putting their own stamp on their roles. If they didn't invite their own feelings and emotions into the story and simply copied another, the show's genuine connection with the audience would be hindered so it pleases me that they are executing an honest visionary. There is currently an air of innocence and surprise about them as a cast and this gives the show a fresh angle. It's not better, it's not worse, it's just different, so hats off to them!
Zrinka Cvitešić remains thoroughly enchanting in the role of "Girl." Her presence alone immediately intrigues and commands the audience's attention from the minute she walks down the theatre aisle onto the stage. She enchants the audience, bringing her character to life with her endearing mannerisms, her natural comic ability and her inherent intuition to translate honest and raw emotion into believable reality on stage. There is no doubt that as "Girl" and as Zrinka, she lays her soul bare at every performance. But it's not just her acting that makes Zrinka stand out. Her piano playing is divinely crafted and beautifully and skilfully interpreted. Back in the beginnings Zrinka was, though perfectly delivered, humbly demure in her vocal performance. It's an absolute honour to have watched her discover a deeper confidence in her voice and to now witness her deliver a vocal with both an innocent fragility and a soaring power, with ease of transition. Not only does she now demonstrate a comfortable confidence, she now possesses an uninhibited self belief and allows her voice to guide her, experimenting with the melody and delivering some exquisite harmonies.
A year ago I had no clue who Zrinka Cvitešić was. Now she's taking the West End by storm, being nominated for and winning sought after awards in the theatre world. One nomination she 100% deserved to take home was the prestigious Olivier Award for "Best Actress In A Musical." This young woman's talent goes beyond the West End, as an actress she could effortlessly rival the Hollywood A-List.
Arthur Darvill, despite his TV persona (Dr. Who, Broadchurch) and his previous run as "Guy" on Broadway, had huge shoes to fill taking over from Declan Bennett. The onstage bond and chemistry between Zrinka and Declan was one of intense, unrivalled beauty. Could he, could they, match that? The answer is in all honesty you wouldn't want them to. Arthur is nurturing a new relationship with Zrinka and that in itself carries a unique beauty and freshness. Having seen their very first show together one Saturday matinee it was a privilege to watch them embarking on a new chapter, discovering each other, embracing an unknown journey together. It was doubly believable, the meeting of Zrinka and Arthur and the meeting of Girl and Guy. The vulnerability and innocence of two lost souls reaching out to each other, guiding each other and creating a trust in each other right in front of your eyes is both charming and magical.
Arthur challenges Zrinka on stage in the most positive way. Having already performed the role of "Guy" on the "Broadway" stage he knows the script inside out so leads with a striking ease of confidence. He constantly throws new angles on the script meaning Zrinka has to think on her feet and react accordingly, thus adding a natural flair to the storyline.
Arthur's portrayal of "Guy" carries an awkward charm and a relatable humour. He is a lonely, frustrated soul who's music not only fuels his sadness but is also the catalyst to his happiness. Musically Arthur is at one with his guitar. His delivery of the songs is sincere and uninhibited. He is not afraid to explore vocally, creating a very real and unhinged interpretation that speaks to the audience and holds their attention and emotions.
Another stand out performance comes from Jez Unwin (bank manager). His comic delivery of his solo is definitely one of the shows memorable moments. He perfects the imperfect and captures the attention of the audience who laugh both at him and with him and after a gruelling critique of his performance from "Girl" and "Guy" they soon feel a sympathy towards his feelings. Other notable performances come from Matthew Ganley (Svec) and Mathew Hamper (Andrej). The new cast most definitely shows huge promise. They have an infectious energy and are well on the path to perfecting their own unique take on the show. I look forward to revisiting "Dublin" in the future!
In a recent media call I asked lead "Girl" Zrinka Cvitešić how after a year she managed to make each show a unique journey. Her answer sums it up. "I think it's the fact that we are creating our own music every night on stage and there's no conductor, nobody who leads us. So I think you have to have this amount of adrenaline and concentration and I think this is the key for this one." Its power lies in music, real, raw music teamed with vocals that are edgy, improvised and uninhibited, where any slight imperfection in delivery makes it ever more perfect. The song and dance numbers in the show transcend through the music in a way that is seamless and understated. The music in "Once" is not traditional musical theatre style. It lends itself more to an intimate gig in a small music venue or a local pub which is fitting given the stage set design is a Dublin bar. The songs lend themselves heavily to acoustic delivery, creating a platform for them to shine lyrically and vocally. Each song is packed with emotional connection; from the angst and intensity of "Guy's," "Leave" to the beauty and fragility of "Girl's," "The Hill." All the songs help to develop the script and their inclusion is seamless. "Falling Slowly" is one of the most simple melodies with beautiful harmonies. It touches the heart and soul and remains engrained in your mind from beginning to end. The script intertwines and blends with the songs, both work in harmony alongside each other. It cleverly links characters, moments and situations with respect for emotions and feelings. "Once" takes you on a musical journey, mends hearts, opens your eyes to a deeper you."
If I could only choose one musical to watch for the rest of my life, this would be the one. Once most definitely isn't enough and rest assured I can vouch for that!
Click here to listen to 4 exclusive live performances from the media call secret gig at The Phoenix Theatre
Once is playing at The Phoenix Theatre, Charing Cross Road till July 2015.
Arthur Darvill will appear until 10th May 2014
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