The Middletown Press (Middletown, CT)
‘Once’ again for Dublin-set musical at Ivoryton
Having played larger theaters in Connecticut in recent years, the musical “Once” gets a more intimate venue at the Ivoryton Playhouse beginning Wednesday.
The Broadway hit was itself based on a movie, which won an Oscar for that simple but moving tune “Falling Slowly.” The bar-and-stage set, too, is minimalist but effective.
The story takes place in Dublin, where an Irish musician is about to trash his dreams, and a fetching Czech immigrant is drawn to him over the course of a week. But it’s a complicated love story.
The show won eight Tony Awards including Best Musical. This version is being directed by Ben Hope, who at Ivoryton performed in “Million Dollar Quartet” and “Stand By Your Man” and is making his directorial debut with this show. He knows the show, certainly, having performed the role of Guy on Broadway. And making it more special for Hope is that he’s directing his wife, Katie Barton, in the role of Girl. Barton has also performed in Ivoryton, playing the lead role of Tammy Wynette in “Stand By Your Man.”
Sam Sherwood, who was at Ivoryton in “The Road — My Life With John Denver,” will play Guy.
The production will run through Oct. 14. Performance times are Wednesday and Sunday matinees at 2 p.m., evening performances Wednesday and Thursday at 7:30 p.m. and Friday and Saturday at 8.
Tickets are $55 for adults; $50 for seniors; $25 for students and $20 for children and are available by calling the Playhouse box office at 860-767-7318 or by visiting ivorytonplay house.org.