Once

Queen’s Theatre, Hornchurch

Reviewed – 4th October 2018

★★★★★

“a phenomenal production”

In Dublin, a man is about to leave his guitar behind for good. But a Czech woman needs her hoover fixed, and she plans to pay him in music. So begins a musical partnership, that over the course of a week, will change both their lives. Based on the acclaimed film by John Carney, ‘Once’ is a quietly beautiful story of music, love and loss. This is the first ever regional production of ‘Once’ and what a production it is. It started life at the New Wolsey Theatre, and now opens at Queen’s Theatre Hornchurch to a standing ovation.

The actor-musician cast are supremely talented, vocally superb, genuine and often very funny in their performances, alternating between instruments with complete ease. Daniel Healy and Emma Lucia play the central couple. Lucia is wonderful, apparently unphaseable, lively and immediately likeable, the heart and soul of this story. Healy is equally fantastic. Lost and hurt, he sings and plays with an urgency of emotion that is both beautiful and heartbreaking to watch. Their relationship is tangible onstage, the words left unsaid and the complications that surround loving someone. Sean Kingsley as Billy, is a lively comic addition to the production, incongruous and bold. In fact, there isn’t a weak link across the cast.

Libby Watson’s accomplished set creates a familiar pub backdrop, walls heavy with frames, with a roof that lifts to reveal a star studded night sky high above the world. Under Peter Rowe’s direction, the actors remain onstage almost constantly, and a fantastically warm sense of ensemble is created.

Enda Walsh’s book is playful and simple, coupled with music and lyrics by Glen Hansard and Marketa Irglova. Swelling folk tunes are followed by beautiful moments of ensemble acapella. This is a phenomenal production, touching and funny and deeply human, delivered by superb performances across the board.

Reviewed by Amelia Brown

Photography by Mike Kwasniak

Once

Queen’s Theatre Hornchurch until 20th October

Previously reviewed at this venue:

The Game of Love and Chai | ★★★ | April 2018

Priscilla, Queen of the Desert | ★★★ | May 2018

Abigail’s Party | ★★★½ | September 2018

Click here to see more of our latest reviews on thespyinthestalls.com

★★★★

“a well-crafted reply to the undertones of Mike Leigh’s play”

‘Abi’, a contemporary response piece to Abigail’s Party, is a one woman play in which Abigail’s granddaughter navigates growing up, family, and figments of the past.

The repurposed set of the party is punctuated with cardboard boxes. The play begins, once again, with a dance. This music, however, is played through a phone connected to a wireless speaker. Abi is having a party at her grandmother, Abigail’s, house even though Abigail is in hospital at the moment. Luke is due to be the first to arrive. They’ve been talking online for months now and this will be her first chance to meet him and her naive optimism becomes increasingly painful to watch.

Atiha Sen Gupta draws some very clever parallels between the original play and her response, drawing us down a completely unanticipated path, in a well-crafted reply to the undertones of Mike Leigh’s earlier play. The piece manages to find the balance between conversational entertainment and politically engaged material, considering race, gender, sex education, online relationships and sexual assault.

The writing does occasionally meander slightly unnaturally, but it is carried by Safiyya Ingar who, as Abi, is warm, immediately likeable and full of energy. Her impressions, too, are sharp and recognisable. Ingar delivers a fantastic performance and is a pleasure to watch.

This is an engaged, genuine and contemporary response to ‘Abigail’s Party’, uncovering the darker underside of Abigail’s party decades earlier, delivered by a brilliant performance from Safiyya Ingar.

Reviewed by Amelia Brown

Photography by Mark Sepple

Tag Archives: Queen’s Theatre Hornchurch

Once – 5 Stars

Once

Queen’s Theatre, Hornchurch

Reviewed – 4th October 2018

★★★★★

“a phenomenal production”

Reviewed by Amelia Brown

Photography by Mike Kwasniak

Once

Queen’s Theatre Hornchurch until 20th October

Previously reviewed at this venue:

Rope | ★★★★ | February 2018

The Game of Love and Chai | ★★★ | April 2018

Priscilla, Queen of the Desert | ★★★ | May 2018

Abi | ★★★★ | September 2018

Abigail’s Party | ★★★½ | September 2018

Click here to see more of our latest reviews on thespyinthestalls.com

Abi – 4 Stars

Abi

Queen’s Theatre, Hornchurch

Reviewed – 6th September 2018

★★★★

“a well-crafted reply to the undertones of Mike Leigh’s play”

‘Abi’, a contemporary response piece to Abigail’s Party, is a one woman play in which Abigail’s granddaughter navigates growing up, family, and figments of the past.

The writing does occasionally meander slightly unnaturally, but it is carried by Safiyya Ingar who, as Abi, is warm, immediately likeable and full of energy. Her impressions, too, are sharp and recognisable. Ingar delivers a fantastic performance and is a pleasure to watch.

This is an engaged, genuine and contemporary response to ‘Abigail’s Party’, uncovering the darker underside of Abigail’s party decades earlier, delivered by a brilliant performance from Safiyya Ingar.

Reviewed by Amelia Brown

Photography by Mark Sepple

Abi

Queen’s Theatre, Hornchurch until 22nd September

Related

Abigail’s Party is running alongside Abi – review here

Previously reviewed at this venue:

Rope | ★★★★ | February 2018

The Game of Love and Chai | ★★★ | April 2018

Priscilla, Queen of the Desert | ★★★ | May 2018

Click here to see more of our latest reviews on thespyinthestalls.com