Beginning and ending with a full stage of musicians, Paramount Theatre’s “Once” drove home the unifying concept of music fueling and connecting the hearts and souls.
Featuring a 15-plus ensemble of veteran musicians who acted as the drivers of the show’s score in addition to named characters, the rendition of the 2012 Tony Award winner featured all of the pulse and energy of its original counterpart.
Audiences members walk into a house already knee-deep in the clamor and the clangor, with ensemble members playing various folk songs on stage in typical “ceilidh” fashion while individuals meander around the active bar serving the show’s signature drink — Irish whiskey, lime juice and bitters.
“Once” is a love story that is different from most that grace the musical theater stage. At its heart are two people who fall into each other’s lives and affect its course for the better, bonding over a shared love and respect for the power of the song. That does not mean all goes smoothly over the course of their story, but what drives home this message of the human spirit connecting through music is the relentless visual rapport provided by the ridiculously talented ensemble.
Moving seamlessly from background player to front and center violinist to speaking character, members of the ensemble juggled a number roles that added to the fluidity of the scenic movement, making for an effortless buzz of energy that gave each player onstage a nomadic presence that was rooted in immediacy.
After a series of mainstage seasons that saw some of Broadway’s hottest kick-lines and belt-worthy numbers grace the Paramount stage, “Once” provides a welcome change of scenery and soundscape for the folk-inclined listener. Staying true to the show’s dogma of music and fellowship acting as forces capable of changing lives, the Paramount’s “Once” proves that musical theater is not always about the splendor of show business — sometimes all you need is a guitar in your hand and a song in your heart.
The show runs from April 25 through June 3 at Paramount Theatre in Aurora, Ill.
