Music Monday: Once the musical

Hey guys, I know its not Monday, but close enough eh? so today's Music Monday is a little different, as it is a review of a musical I saw last Saturday. Now I'm not really a Musical type of person, if I do watch them its usually movie versions and there are only three musical movies I like- Oliver!, Greece, and Annie. No high school musical for me thanks, when I was about 9 and it came out I refused to watch it and I still do to this day. But anyway, what I'm trying to say is that if I like a musical, you can expect it to be pretty damn good as my expectations are very high.

So on Saturday I went to see the musical "Once" in the Phoenix theater, and I'd read the description and it seemed like something I was going to dread- a soppy romance. I'd been forced to choose a musical of some sort to watch and I initially chose "Wicked" because three of my friends are completely obsessed with it, but then changed my mind as my step-mum who is from South Africa had come over and hadn't been to London in years so I thought I'd let her choice be the one we went to, plus I had heard from a friend that it was going to be good. I am so glad we went to see "Once" instead of "Wicked" as it now has its place among the musicals that I rank the highest.

Set in Dublin (which means that everyone has lovely accents which is a nice change, I'm getting a bit fed up with London accents by now), it follow the story of a young musician who is trying to make it but has just about given up, but is unexpectedly saved by a Czech girl who shares his passion and talent for music. Its not your average love story but not just plot-wise, the way the characters interact with each other is not the usual boring romantic way either. The script is hilarious, and the use of lighting to create other rooms on stage but with using just one set is very clever. The actors are all amazing, all of them are musicians and have to dance at the same time as play music and act, and they are brilliant musicians and singers too, the music sounds as if it has been recorded. The thing that really makes this is the music, its traditional Irish and Czech sound is awesome and very fitting, used in clever ways to change scenes and also to create powerful emotive connections between the characters stronger than just the dialogue alone.

Anyway what I'm basically trying to say is: go watch this NOW! Its just too good to miss, there's probably still tickets left as I booked mine just days before I went, take advantage of that! I'm definitely hoping to go again!

Yas xx

P.S. Just before I saw it I had dinner at my new favourite restaurant, Bill's, which is near Leicester Square in London in St Martins Square, and I highly recommend it, the food is amazing! If you see the muscial you should definitely eat there!