“Once” by Enda Walsh
Once by Enda Walsh
Lyrics by Glen Hansard and Marketa Irglova
Theater Communications Group (TCG)
January 2012
$13.95
520 Eighth Ave, 24th Floor
New York, New York 10018
www.tcg.org
This volume includes the book and lyrics but not the score. It includes a brief foreword by writer Enda Walsh about the workshop process in a church basement in Cambridge, MA.
The story revolves around an Irish man, “Guy,” who has almost given up on life, love and music. He is given new perspective by a passionate and sweet Czech woman, “Girl,” a single mother and music enthusiast. Together these unrequited lovers set on a course for life affirming change and success while renewing their faith in the power of creation and love.
Once is an interesting take on the lives of the lower middle-class living in Dublin – in that most musicals don’t look at sad facts such as poverty and suicide with such honesty. It makes the illusion of hope for these characters so much more poignant. He wants to travel to NYC to make it big and follow love. It seems like everyone else on the planet knows how often these types of dreams fail. It’s not that he doesn’t see reality; reality isn’t even offered as an option.
