Once (Upon a Musical)

There are certain shows and musicals, that I simply must see as soon as I see a trailer - Wicked, The Producers, Jesus Christ Superstar. (Currently Macbeth with Alan Cumming falls into this category but gosh darn Cumming has to insist on only one show per day so matinees are out, ugh!  I'm sure playing every character in a major Shakespearean tragedy must take a lot out of you but really?!  Doesn't he care that I'd like to see it!? : )  Anyway, then there are other shows that I must be persuaded into - RENT majorly falls into this category. 

Before seeing RENT for the first time on Broadway, I was a bit annoyed that I was spending money to see such a depressing show (it was a friend's 21st birthday present so I really had no choice).  But after seeing it,  I finally "got" it!  I wouldn't go so far as to say it's "uplifting" like this particular friend describes it but it's certainly awesome in every sense of the word.  What Jonathan Larson accomplished with the score and the music and the story is something truly amazing.  I adored the show so much that I've seen it 2 additional times on Broadway, and I never cease to get goosebumps at all the same parts and of course there are tears as well.  So with this in mind, I find myself in this camp again, feeling hopeful for another RENT-like smash hit in my book. 

 I've been hearing nothing but good things about Once since it opened last year.  Everyone who attends raves about how beautiful and new the music and the characters are.  But it really wasn't appealing to me.  In the last few weeks though, it's been in the news for some new casting changes and I've actually listened to a bit of the music.  I've most definitely changed my tune.  So much so that the tickets have been acquired and I'm quite excited about it!  It will be my first show since quite possibly Mary Poppins which was most definitely a dud in my book (this coming from the girl who adores the Mary Poppins movie!  The fact that the musical sucked was utterly heartbreaking!)  I'm hearing fabulous things about the new Brits who have taken the lead. And if nothing else, I'm sure it will be a fantastic day in the city that I love sharing some yummy Cuban food with a great friend!  Once is just the icing on the cake!