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A CurtainUp 
London Review
London ReviewOnce
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I'm always serious. I'm Czech.— Girl
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Declan Bennett as the Guy
(Photo: Manuel Harlan)
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Before the show, as in New York, there is a "spontaneous" ceilidh with the entire cast joining in on their instruments. Members of the audience nervously ventured onto the stage to buy a drink and mingle with the cast.
John Tiffany's direction is of course delightful with idiosyncratic movement from Steve Hoggett synchronising the cast in unexpected ways. The two leads in London are Declan Bennett as the Guy and Zrinka Cvitesic as the Girl. He plays the guitar, she the piano. Cvitesic has a natural charm but Declan Bennett's performance is so full of melancholy.
The songs are gentle but a tad similar, all building to a loud crescendo, so the effect is rather samey, rather than invigorating and not varied enough to sustain more than two and a half hours of show time. The Oscar winning song "Falling Slowly" is pretty but sung as the second number in the show.
Bob Crowley's Dublin bar set with its de-silvered mirrors and black and white photographs and Natasha Katz's lighting add atmosphere. There were fans of the movie in the audience, already won over to the charm of the piece but precious few new converts.
For Curtainup's reviews in New York and song list go here go here.
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Once based on the motion picture of the same name Book by Enda Walsh Music and lyrics by Glen Hansard and Marketa Irglova Directed by Jon Tiffany Movement by Steven Hoggett London Cast: Declan Bennett, Zrinka Cvitesic, Valda Aviks, Ryan Fletcher, Aidan Kelly, Gareth O'Connor, Michael O'Conner, Miria Parvin, Jos slovick, Flora Spencer-Longhurst, Jez Unwin, Gabriel Vick, Poppy-Lily Baker/Mia Jai Bryan/Pacha Ann Green, Nancy Ann Jeans Booking to 30th November 2013 Reviewed by Lizzie Loveridge based on 10th April 2013 performance at the Phoenix Theatre, Charing Cross Road, London WC2H 0JP (Tube: Tottenham Court Road, Leicester Square) |
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