ONCE in concert starring Carrie Hope Fletcher and Jamie Muscato review | London Palladium, West End

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OHMYGOD HEY!
This weekend I took a trip to the London Palladium in the West End to see the Tony Award winning musical ONCE staged in concert.
This concert version of the show reunited Heathers alumni Jamie Muscato and Carrie Hope Fletcher as Guy and Girl.
Check out today's new review video for my thoughts on this show and my verdict about whether or not it worked in concert...
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#theatre #westend #musical

[@constancebole622]

That. Opening. KILLING me with the KZbinr apology. White tee and everything! 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻

[@MickeyJoTheatre]

I'm so glad that reference came across 🤣

[@fashionablechangeling2003]

@@MickeyJoTheatre Not enough fake crying though, gonna have to dock some points for that

[@dirkandi]

​@@fashionablechangeling2003But more than enough of that horribly fake Hollywood smile!!

[@cuber3603]

​@@fashionablechangeling2003"I'm taking a break from the internet"

[@Philippadrinkstea]

Hoooowling 😂

[@thomashamilton8523]

What I think is great about Carrie Hope Fletcher's career at the moment is that she's finally "growing up" in terms of her stage roles as opposed to a lot of her more well known roles (Eponine, Wednesday, Veronica and Cinderella) which even for the one's that aren't explicitly teenagers are still characters were they "discover themselves/come of age' etc. and now she's playing women who are more mature and getting to do more complex character work and potentially redefine who she is as an actress

[@bethanyjoyxo]

I saw this twice on the West End in 2013 and it became one of my favourite musicals of all time! I went to the evening performance on Sunday and absolutely LOVED Jamie & Carrie's performances. I thought they did so brilliantly considering they only had a couple weeks of rehearsals! So impressed with Carrie playing piano on the Palladium stage after not playing the piano for many years!

[@EmmaTheCowie]

The grip that Falling Slowly had on me as an angsty teen when the film came out…hits me in the feels every time!

[@XGamerRichy]

They definitely got the sharpie out for the SOLD sign for the evening performance, but then we did have to contend with a show stop due to technical difficulties possibly surrounding the guitar's mic (among a few other sound issues too); but definitely agree with this review of Once in Concert. It was lovely and stirring and the cast were great, but it just needed a much more intimate venue.

[@sugarskanes]

There was a show stop for about 10-15 mins in the evening show due to sound... I didn’t notice an issue initially, but they stopped after performing “Falling Slowly”. When the curtain went back up after a while, they performed the song again and the vocals and instruments were definitely louder/clearer the second time around. Either way it was great to hear it twice!

[@aimeequick3567]

Was interested to hear your thoughts! I was at the evening performance and thought everyone did an amazing job, Jamie definitely stood out most to me it was a role that really seemed to suit him. We did have a show stop just after falling slowly due to “technical difficulties” (although I’m sure I heard some sort of shout/scream during the song, so not sure if it was actually that or someone in the audience needing medical attention. Either way when they did eventually come back on stage they did great to get the show back on track and even made a little joke about it 😂

[@Nargon46]

I worked lightboard and projections for Once at a big civic theatre last year, the "I Love You" moment was absolutely my favorite part of that job. Even if everything else went pear-shaped, that moment had to be perfect every time. Such a great scene.

[@sierrabergsgaard5314]

Please tell me you are going to see a review Bad Cinderella when you’re in NYC! We need this full circle moment.

[@MarkDickson101]

I’m not usually a big fan of puns but yours are always outstanding. This video contains one of your best.

[@amy1608]

I was in the very back row and the “I love you” lighting was totally lost on me. Couldn’t make it out at all so thank you for talking about it 😅

[@phililili23]

I loved both Carrie and Jamie in this (their Falling Slowly was extraordinary, and it was very special to hear it an extra time because of the show stop), but definitely agree with you that Jamie is the one from the two of them who feels meant for his role. How right he was also made me very aware of how similar he and Arthur Darvill are as performer types... which in turn made me suddenly very keen to see Jamie take over Curly if they were to extend Oklahoma. I'm just saying the timing would just about line up with a possible Moulin Rouge cast change ;) Also the lighting was stunning, but the tech issues were kind of heartbreaking given the overall standard of the show. In the evening performance there were a few very awkward lighting cue misses (fortunately never at key moments) and the mic pick-up issues you mentioned continued into the evening as well. That said, with the aforementioned standard, it was very easy to ignore all of that.

[@georgiacornwell3910]

I went to the evening performance and loved it. I saw the original production in the West End a couple times and 'Once' became my favourite musical after that. I really enjoyed the concerts take on it. It was such a shame about the technical issues and the show stop, but the cast dealt with it so well. The vocal performances were expecially beautiful and the music never fails to disappoint. Definitely agree about the venue though, there was some intimacy lost from having it in a large venue. Great review ❤️

[@katiehusband1505]

I loved once when it was in the west end I saw Arthur Darvill and Ronan Keating as guy and have never felt anything quite like it in the West end. Beautiful. I loved the set and the bar on stage at the Phoenix. (And met Alex Kingston which was crazy). It's such an amazing show and I have never been able to articulate it.

[@CP-mb3sn]

Wow! I didn't meet Alex Kingston, but I loved the Phoenix production so much I didn't want to see this concert as I didn't think it would be as good.

[@hayleyrona2986]

I was at the evening performance and I love seeing Jamie and Carrie together. I dont know if its because I was in the stalls but I still felt that intimacy of the show. Even though there was a show stop I really appreciated that they went back and ran Falling Slowly again.

[@yaneryventura9705]

Watched Once in Sydney for the first time last year. Our Girl actress also played the character very bubbly and funny, so I had no idea this was not the traditional portrayal! Really great insights throughout the video. Thank you 😊

[@crohnierunner]

I loved it, was great to meet you and Aeron once is my favourite musical was soo excited to see it have another life even just for one day

[@Nikki-mx5my]

I haven’t seen the play, but saw the film several years ago and it was wonderful. I hope to see the musical someday.

[@BeccaW]

I saw the original west end production 3 times, the touring production once, and i also saw the evening performance of this staged concert, and honestly, the staging of the concert was pretty similar to the original production anyway, it just didnt have a backdrop, but i agree that it was strange that it was in the Palladium. It's such a gorgeous show and it felt far too big a stage for it. In the evening performance we had a show stop 20 minutes into it! They took everyone off stage and they had to do something with the sound, but we also had a few sound issues on people lines too where the mics weren't on at the correct time. I totally agree about the projection of "I Love You", it didn't work well because it was hard to read. In the west end production you'd hear everyone gasp but in this auditorium, no one said anything. Again, I agree about the "sold" sign too. I was sat in the grand circle and i couldn't read it, but knew what it was because i'd seen it before.

[@schuylersnarrative3971]

Saw the evening performance and there was a few sound issues too, and a 15 min show stop. Having seen the 2013 production I had the same feelings you did about Carrie, but I actually didn't mind her too much in this role. We were sat in the cheap seats right at the back so I was wondering what the text was saying haha

[@miillsy]

The music and the lighting were just simply stunning for this concert. At the evening performance there was a show stop right at Falling Slowly and the cast handled it tremendously. I was sat in the Royal Circle and we could here someone cry out a few times throughout, in what sounded like a lot of pain. Interesting from other comments that they didn’t pick up on that! It made us doubt whether it was actually the technical difficulty they announced it was. Hope whoever it was is ok!

[@yolanvdk5854]

We were in the royal circle as well and deffo also heard some cries.

[@aimeequick3567]

I was in the stalls and I thought I heard something like that, but couldn’t see anything or anyone getting medical attention

[@miillsy]

@@aimeequick3567 there was a lot of members of staff running around at the top of the royal circle 😬 but I was trying desperately to concentrate on the music at that point still! Hopefully all was ok

[@aimeequick3567]

@@miillsy yes! Hopefully everyone was okay. I was at the back of the stalls and we were all just so confused because we heard the noise but saw nothing. On a lighter note i did appriciate carrie's little joke when the came back on stage to sing falling slowly "again" 😂

[@raintwirling]

I saw it 6 times in 2013/14 in the west end and to this day it’s my favourite show. I was gutted I couldn’t make it to this concert!

[@filmsociety1311]

I had tickets to see the show at the Edinburgh Playhouse in 2020 but it was cancelled due to Covid obviously.

[@lucyreid2161]

I’m sorry I’m only minutes in but I just have to express how funny I find it that ‘guy’ is a hoover repair man…I mean what a random job to give a character that could have any occupation. But I mean someone’s gotta fix the broken hoovers lmao

[@katarinaciglenecki5330]

The Girl was first played by Zrinka Cvitesic from my country Croatia and she won a Olivier.

[@MickeyJoTheatre]

She was PHENOMENAL in the role!

[@mayafreak5311]

As a fellow Czech I came to complain that we are not eastern European but central. Austria is more to the east than us. Tbh I cannot wait for a bootleg audio to listen to that Czech folk song, in majority I never understand it 😅

[@MickeyJoTheatre]

Apologies! You can ask anyone, my geography is HORRIBLE!

[@khills]

😂 I SO badly offended a Czech taxi driver when I made that mistake of saying Eastern Europe, and wouldn't let us go until I learned some basic Czech. (He was trying to teach my husband, too, but we all quickly agreed that the Australian accent is not designed to speak Czech.) It's a fun language!

[@anabryant136]

I’ve seen Once two times & I loved seeing Ronan Keating @ the Phonxi some years ago. Would have loved to see this tonight.

[@putthebookdown]

As much as I love the Once stage adaptation (and I really do love it) it will never catch the raw broken hearted honesty of the film. Glen and Mara (the songwriters and the original Guy and Girl in the film) have an authenticity which simply cannot be matched by stage school trained note perfect squeaky clean musical theatre actors like Carrie and Jamie. I’ve seen their performance of Falling Slowly that was posted online, and they’re both too pretty and too perfect. The whole point of the film and by extension the stage show, is that these characters are imperfect in every way. She’s rather plain and unconfident, he’s far past his prime, his voice is raspy and raw, hers is subtle and gentle. Both of them have been hurt, and both of them are, in their own way, broken. But together, through their imperfections, they are perfect. I’m honestly not dropping on the stage show, or any actor who has performed these roles on stage, but sincerely, if you love this show and haven’t seen the film it is based off of, I urge you to seek it out. It’s transformative.

[@SilverLikeStarlight]

I just saw a local theatre production here in the US and it was amazing. Small venue with less-polished singers and it was perfect. Felt like I was watching this really happen instead of a performance.

[@david-jonballinger6638]

Havw tou seen the original Westend production? Because i feel like it was very raw and honest

[@nicolestevens6941]

You are aware that neither Carrie or Jamie are stage school alumni?!

[@putthebookdown]

@@nicolestevens6941 I didn’t actually. Good on them. They’re both great musical theatre actors. They’d boss doing Sondheim, but I still think they’re a little too polished and perfect for the guy and the girl.

[@putthebookdown]

@@SilverLikeStarlight I think that’s the key to casting a story like this. You need to feel as if you could have passed the guy and girl busking in the streets on your way to the theatre.

[@mwmheps]

I’d never seen Once before (other than the original movie a long time ago) but I really loved it! More than I expected to :) though I agree trying to decipher the I Love you and the SOLD sign threw me as well (it did say SOLD if you really squinted). Jamie Muscato’s voice is just so beautiful, it almost makes me want to see Moulin Rouge

[@ANightworkerslife]

ok, the BIG question... are you going to see Bad Cinderella in New York?

[@David-pt8ge]

I was put off by the casting of Carrie Hope Fletcher. Just because she is always available, surely issues such as cultural appropriation should at least be thought about. London is still a very diverse city and I cannot see why somebody from that country or a greater understanding of what it is like being from that area, rather than always making do with a white cis middle class woman from Harrow. I hope her accent was not too jarring.

[@thadybear1024]

Okay, so off-topic, but MickeyJo looked so cute in his little outfit in the video :DD

[@claire2088]

thank you for your apology, it breaks my heart too that you missed the oppotunity. maybe it's a sign that you need to see the fully staged version in cirencester? x

[@neoisinside]

I always cry on the Hill :(, Once is my favorite Musical ever!

[@georgiacornwell3910]

Me too!

[@AlexandriaFhayeReyes]

NOW I WISHED I COULD'VE SEEN IT EVEN MORE

[@martiniglass]

I was at the matinee show as well! I had never seen Once and it brought tears to my eyes. I quite liked Carrie's take on Girl, as I said I've never seen the original production before but I thought it was very fitting. I loved how funny and bubbly she was, it made it very impactful when she was singing the more emotional songs..it shows that Girl is a lot more than what meets the eyes. Overall, very funny and heart warming!

[@cosmincristani1993]

Your coming to America! New York is a rat trap but theatre alleviates all feelings of being a packed sardine and makes the city a dreamland.

[@KaraKlemme]

All the actors/musicians were amazing, definitely loved hearing falling slowly twice during the evening performance. Only thing that was weird was any time something was slightly funny like for a under breath chuckle, it felt like the audience overreacted with laughter and it felt like pandering towards the big stars. Totally agree about the venue, would have been way better in a place like the arts theatre. Also the lighting for the ‘I love you’ was totally lost on me in the royal circle.

[@hallmarket]

Once is such a guilty pleasure movie of mine :') I didn't know they did a stage version!

[@Showtunediva]

What is your final show viewing schedule for your New York trip? I have heard Hadestown is very good. Have a wonderful time & I look forward to your reviews. As for Once I saw this show at Seacoast Rep in Portsmouth NH for my bachelorette party in 2019. It is one of my top Favorite musicals.💗

[@thelastsaxtop]

It was a shame it was so hard to make out lyrics for most of the songs. Quite a lot of booms from the microphones! But seeing them live, that was great

[@elysem30]

will you be seeing Carrie in her tour? i'm so curious about it but i'm a USAmerican haha

[@jerry_6122]

Have a great time in NYC. What are you seeing? I’ll be there in the summer but, I haven’t chose what I’m seeing.

[@katemarshall6488]

While I didn't see this production, I can only assume The Palladium was chosen from a capacity perspective as I totally agree the venue doesn't seem to vibe with the type of show this is🌟

[@christinebrett4825]

You're definitely a Jamie Muscato fan like me. I'm not sure what he is doing after Moulin Rouge yet!!

[@sophiechan722]

That intro 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻😂

[@rayreineu]

Oh my god I *HATED* the movie Once and repressed my memory of my Aunt making me watch it all the time when I was younger... until now. They made a musical of it?? Hm. Hmmmmmm. The characters and songs actually sound interesting and lovely... I might check the music out now that I've heard you praise much of it! (And now that I'm older and might appreciate the story more.) I have to tell my Aunt about it, I know she'll be thrilled lol

[@andrewstorm8240]

Have you reviewed guys and dolls

[@khills]

He did - it came up as a recommendation on KZbin to watch after this, for me!

[@andrewstorm8240]

@@khills thanks

[@Catmum1998]

I was at the end of row B so I couldn’t see much but yes the sign said sold 😁

[@adelaturlington5059]

As a Czech, please don't call us Eastern European, in many ways we are and in many ways we are not and a lot of people reactly badly when called that way

[@shangc2781]

What's the preferred term?

[@kc-lp6wg]

Why are you dressed for the outside inside?

[@MickeyJoTheatre]

Sometimes I get cold

[@kc-lp6wg]

@@MickeyJoTheatre l'm from Canada and that checks. I thought it was a Once reference l wasn't getting!

[@daniB70]

CHF did an awesome job of “reacquainting” herself with playing the piano for this roll…🫶