Unique and Spellbinding: Once
*THIS SHOW HAS BEEN POSTPONED DUE TO ONGOING COVID-19 RESTRICTIONS, NEW DATES TBA*
Toby Francis is very excited about reprising his starring role in the return season of the Broadway smash-hit musical, Once, directed by Richard Carroll, presented by Darlinghurst Theatre Company and showing at the Civic Theatre in Newcastle 8–11 September.
Once, the musical, is based on the movie of the same name by John Carney and features music and lyrics by folk duo Glen Hansard and Markéta Irglová, who are otherwise known as The Swell Season. Enda Walsh, an Irish playwright, adapted the film for the stage, working alongside Hansard and Irglová. It is the only Broadway show with music that has won the Academy Award®, Grammy Award®, Olivier Award and Tony Award®, and according to Toby, “it’s pretty special.”
The 2019 production broke box-office records and played to nightly standing ovations. It was a sell-out season that had to be extended due to popular demand. It’s a heart-warming, often funny, soulful tale that takes the audience on a moving journey through a myriad of emotions to a multi-award-winning soundtrack of Irish folk and torch songs. The stunning dance sequences in the show were created by Hamilton’s resident director Amy Campbell.
“It feels amazing to be performing in this show again,” said Toby.
The last time, in 2019, was a difficult period for me personally – my heart was hurting, but the role actually helped me to process what I was going through. This time around, I’m in a different place altogether, I’m comfortable, and I get to work with Stefanie again, who is just incredible!”
Starring alongside Toby is Stefanie Caccamo, who enjoyed rave reviews of her 2019 performance in the same role. Time Out Sydney referred to her as “an extraordinary vocalist, full of gorgeous yearning.” Joining them on stage is audience favourite Jay Laga’aia and returning original season performers, Victoria Falconer (also Musical Director), Drew Livingston, Abe Mitchell, Rupert Reid and Alec Steedman. Newcomers include Tamlyn Henderson, Deirdre Khoo, Patrick Schnur and Jennifer Trijo (also Associate Musical Director).
The musicality of the show and its artists is what makes this show so unique and spellbinding. The actors are their own band and have to act, sing and play their instruments throughout the entire show. Every one of them are exceptional instrumentalists.
Toby Francis will be playing the original guitar that Glen Hansard used when he wrote the songs and made the film. How it came to be in Sydney and available to use in the production is an astounding story of coincidence and fate.
Fans of Glen Hansard (guitarist in the motion picture The Commitments and legendary Irish singer and songwriter) may know that he plays guitars with an extra, worn-out hole that affects the sound that the instrument produces. At one point, he lost the guitar; it was traded and changed hands all over the world, with people buying and selling it many times over.
Images by Robert Catto
An Irish photographer and musician, Dara Munnis, who relocated to Australia in 2016, bought the guitar for his collection. One day, in Sydney, he noticed a poster for the Darlinghurst Theatre Company production of Once and thought it might be nice to offer the guitar to the theatre company for use during the production. He contacted Glen Hansard to ask for his blessing, and Glen thought it was a wonderful idea.
The entire cast and crew treat the guitar with a reverence normally reserved for holy relics, and it’s taken on a magical significance. Musical Director, Victoria Falconer, acknowledges the incredibly lucky sequence of events that brought the guitar to the show.
“Knowing this instrument has had these songs played on them, since the 90s, by the very musician who wrote them, adds a special level of raw authenticity that is layered into Toby’s playing, and by extension, the way in which the whole ensemble plays along with it.”
Toby points out that the age of the guitar adds a warmer, richer, more mellow tone to the instrument and that the trademark hole takes the edge off the top end of the notes. “It’s an incredible privilege to play this instrument,” says Toby.
“When I play it in the show, the guitar feels like it belongs there even more than I do. It’s like honouring the story and the history of where it all came from. At first, I was nervous about playing it, but Dara, the owner, told me to ‘beat the shit out of it ‘cos Glen would.’ And after all, guitars are made for playing!”
Live theatre during a pandemic is rife with issues. Scheduled performances at Sydney’s Eternity Playhouse were cancelled due to the recent Covid lockdown. Cast and crew were let go for the duration; however, Darlinghurst Theatre Company made the decision to continue paying all the artists and crew through the lockdown despite being under no legal obligation to do so.
“They’ve really looked after us,” Toby said. “We’ve all lost a lot of work over the last year and a half, so the support from the company means a lot. And it can’t be easy for them either with so many shows not being able to run.”
Toby is looking forward to the Newcastle season. His partner, Kelsi Boyden, a talented musical theatre actress and musician herself, grew up in Newcastle, and the pair visit regularly.
The company is keen to get back on stage after lockdown and begin their tour of regional NSW and the ACT, which will include dates in Wollongong, Lismore, Canberra and Orange, as well as Newcastle. After Newcastle, the tour heads to Melbourne. Don’t miss it at the Civic Theatre from 8–11 September. Tickets at www.civictheatrenewcastle.com.au
