Every once in a while, a production comes along that is brave enough to buck the trend and create something that is grounded in reality and yet can still inspire on a deeper level. One of those rare productions, “Once,” will be making an appearance in Salt Lake City at Kingsbury Hall for a limited run April 7-12.
Winner of eight 2012 Tony Awards, including Best Musical, Best Orchestration and Best Book, “Once” is a truly unique Broadway experience that tells a beautiful story about love, romance and the realities of life and sacrifice through a powerful narrative fueled by an unforgettable soundtrack. “Once” boasts a talented cast of actor musicians who play both their characters and their own instruments in a unique format that is generally not seen on the Broadway stage.
“The musicians we have are very talented, but they are all actors first,” said Erica Spyres, who plays the role of the Ex-Girlfriend. “It’s like touring the country with a band.”
Spyres is a talented actress who has been a staple of Boston’s vibrant theatre scene for the last few years, but it was her background in music that helped her lock down what she describes as “a dream come true.” Spyres plays the violin as part of her character’s role in “Once.” She began playing the violin at age three and almost gave it up as a teenager to pursue a basketball career. Fortunately for Spyres, her mom made her stick with it, and eventually she realized her heart was in music, which turned out to be, in her own words, “a wise decision.”
She saw the movie version of “Once” when it was released in 2006 and fell in love with it. When the chance to audition for the Broadway version of “Once” came up it was a perfect opportunity to blend her music and acting backgrounds.
“It was really unique to audition for a show that I knew and [I] already loved the music,” Spyres said.
Even though her role of the Ex-Girlfriend is a small one, it is essential to the musical, as almost all of the music that Guy, the lead character, writes is about his longing for Spyres’ character. Although the storyline is dominated by the budding romance between Guy and the Girl he falls in love with, it’s the music, which is driven by the supporting cast, that fuels the success of the play.
“It’s important to be part of the action and support the actors in the scene,” said Spyres. “With ‘Once’ we are creating a mood which is really unique, especially for the Broadway scene, and the focus is really on acting and singing.”
While many Broadway musicals thrive on delivering a big action spectacle, “Once” is a production that revels in its minimalism. Instead of relying on a multitude of moving set pieces and colorful costumes, the show focuses on its realistic love story and the accompanying music that sets the mood. The songs will hook the audience from the first note.
“For people who don’t like musicals, you will like ‘Once.’ I challenge you to not like ‘Once.’ It’s just not a traditional musical, so don’t expect to come in and see singing and dancing with jazz hands — it’s just not that kind of show,” said Spyres. “It’s a very deep love story because it’s not about guy meets girl and they live happily ever after, it’s more about sacrificing for the sake of the person they love. The bittersweet nature of this story lets you know how important that kind of love really is.”
Tickets for the April 7-12 performances of “Once” are available at the Kingsbury Hall box office and online at kingtix.com
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@ChronyArts