London's West End original musical "Once" is making its Beijing debut from December 20th to 26th at the Beijing Tianqiao Performing Arts Center, with a run of nine consecutive performances. This musical, which has won the Oscars, Grammy Awards, Tony Awards, and Olivier Awards, has finally embarked on its journey in Beijing. On December 19th, the Chinese producer of the play, Cao Yebo, along with the lead actors, made an appearance at the Beijing Tianqiao Performing Arts Center, unveiling the highlights of "Once" in advance.
The musical "Once" is adapted from the 2007 film of the same name, telling a sweet and melancholic love story. Set on the streets of Dublin, Ireland, a flower-selling girl is drawn to the music of a street-performing boy, and thus begins a brief, romantic, and poignant love story. The two lonely souls, brought together by their common interests and the warmth of music, find their connection severed by the mundane realities and constraints of life.
One of the highlights of the play is the exceptional professionalism of the actors. In addition to singing, acting, and dancing, the actors are also required to play musical instruments on stage. The male and female leads must each play the guitar and piano, respectively, and other cast members are expected to play at least one instrument. Some actors even handle up to three instruments. Rather than discouraging them, these high demands have attracted many cross-disciplinary musicians and band members to participate. Arthur Darvill, who plays the male protagonist, mentioned that he was drawn to the live musical performance aspect required by the play. He had participated in the Broadway version of "Once" a decade ago and is now returning for the first round of the play's tour in China.
It is understood that the hit songs from the original film will be presented in the musical, with "Falling Slowly" winning the 2008 Oscar for Best Original Song. The play also features numerous beautiful musical segments, providing the audience with a sensory experience as if they were in an intimate music venue.
Translator: BAI Jing
Editor: ZHOU Huilin
