‘Once’ the musicial

BY LLOYD GORMAN

Smitten Thrice Guy

Australian actor Toby Francis has the difficult job of following in the footsteps of an Irish legend. He is set to take to the role of Guy, the male lead character in the stage musical of Once in the Regal Theatre, Subiaco at the end of May. His character was originally portrayed (and nailed beautifully) by none other than Glen Hansard in the original and much loved film of the same name, written by Enda Walsh and directed by John Carney (the same combo who we have to thank for yet another classic music based flick set in Dublin, Sing Street.) It will be the third time this guy has been that Guy and the theatrical trilogy should

be his – and by extension the audiences – best experience yet. “I must look Irish,” Toby laughed. There might be something to that throw away claim. He is a direct descendent of Paddy Hannon, the Clare man whose lucky fossicking in a patch of dirt helped create Kalgoorlie and one of the biggest goldrushes in the world. “This is my third time in Once and my fifth time as an Irishman on stage. The last time we did Once it got cut off way short, like a few days after opening, so there’s unfinished business.” In what is one of his favourite productions to have been involved in he draws a parallel with his on-stage persona, who is unsure of himself and going through a difficult time but also something that has the potential to change his live forever. “If you think about something you’ve done your whole life, like I have as a performer, and to have that shut down for two years, it takes a part of you and says who are you without that thing and so you feel like you are coming to this halfway place, so I’m really keen and I’m chomping at the bit to come back and do it.” It will also be his first big opportunity to put into practice some of the Irish lessons and insights he picked up after the premier production of Once and the shows second stunted stint. In that gap Toby had another gig as an Irishman, as the MC for the Eireborne tour. “I was on tour in Europe through countries like Germany and Switzerland. My character hosted the show, sang songs and did my best jokes. My second season with Once was informed by having been on tour with a whole bunch of Irish people from Cork and Dublin and loads of other places I couldn’t even pronounce,” he added. “The experience of living in the pocket of people and being accepted into the Irish group of touring artists changed how I felt about Guy. There really is – and it sounds like a cliché – something in the Irish, and I don’t mean the accent or anything like that, that is spoken to each other through the ritual of music and dance. In Irish culture there is something held very close through musical expression that is an important way of saying who you are.” In one of the songs he sang in that role “My Gallant Hero “ Toby could feel the history, culture and pathos of the song and everything it stands for. “So when I came back to do Guy for a second time it felt much more – the songs were always important – felt like the way the character spoke, I felt I understood how he was speaking when I came back the second time.” Guy – who started out as a singer in a punk group in Canberra – was already a Glen Hansard admirer long before knew about Once. “He’s an incredible musician, singer, songwriter and one of my favourite albums ever is his 2015 album, “Didn’t’ He Ramble”.” Nearly all of the songs

in Once the musical were written by Hansard, including a couple from The Frames. He said it is a privilege to be able to sing his songs and wherever he goes and it comes out that he is in Once guitars are often produced for him to sing and play Hansards stuff. Even with such a great catalogue to choose from there is something special about a song like Falling Softly, which seems to capture the soul of this story of boy meets girl, guitar meets piano. “The reason that song gets to the heart of something is because its simple and you get lost in it, the heart of Falling Softly is that something special, even magic, can come out of the ordinary.” Toby’s talents are not alone on the stage and he is completed by co-star Stefanie Caccamo playing Girl. The two stars are supported by on stage by a talented cast who all play, sing and dance as well, adding to the fun and vitality of the story. Helping Toby deliver Hansards beautifully crafted songs is one of the Dublin singers own guitars from around the time the film of Once was made, donated by an Irish photographer friend of his in Australia. On its previous two outings Once has proved to be popular with audiences, but it always seems to strike a special chord with Irish watchers. “The audience response is always huge and people jump to their feet to applaud,” said Toby. “Irish people love it, the Irish and Australian’s mix well, we love a yarn and we love a chat. Irish audiences always stick around after the show and talk about home and Dublin. I’ve had people who have connected with me on Facebook from Ireland who saw the show and who say it was really special and say that if I’m ever in Dublin to get in touch and we’ll go for a drink and a chat. Its really lovely. I know when I was overseas for long periods of time in America, Europe and Asia that when you see something that reminds you of home it is really moving and when it is done accurately and authentically that this is something very moving about it and I feel like that this is the reaction of ex-pats who come and see the show. The reaction can be quite an emotional one and joyous and funny. I think we have had the most supportive audiences, not just because the show is incredible but because the Irish community really want to get behind it and it’s a part of them.” Be prepared to be smitten!