Once

Enda Walsh

• Publisher: Theatre Communications Group
• Year: 2013
• Print ISBN:
  9781559364218
• eBook ISBN:
  9781559367684
• Topic: Literature
• Subtopic: American Drama
• Index: Literature

"A jewel box of a musical: small, delicate, brimming with emotion and charm."—Vogue

"It may sound like heresy to fans of the 2006 film, but this bewitching stage adaptation arguably improves on the movie, expanding its emotional breadth and elevating it stylistically while remaining true to the original's raw fragility."?Hollywood Reporter

Retaining the film's popular music and lyrics, acclaimed Irish playwright Enda Walsh adapts this charming tale of a complicated romance between an Irish street musician and a young Czech immigrant for the stage. A hit musical Off-Broadway, Once premiered on Broadway in spring 2012 to rave reviews.

Enda Walsh is the author of five Edinburgh Festival Fringe First Award-winning plays, including Penelope, The Walworth Farce, and The New Electric Ballroom. He also co-wrote the film Hunger, which won the Camera d'Or award at the Cannes Film Festival.

Glen Hansard and Markéta Irglová are the stars and songwriters of the 2006 film Once, for which they won an Academy Award for Best Song. The two comprise the musical folk-rock duo The Swell Season, which is currently touring the United States. A documentary film of the duo, The Swell Season, was an official selection of the 2011 Tribeca Film Festival. Hansard is also a member of the Irish band The Frames and Irglová is a classically trained Czech pianist and vocalist.

The first half.

As the audience takes its seat and waits in the auditorium, there’s a session on stage with musicians and singers belting out songs to one another. It’s raw, chaotic and hugely positive.

Suddenly it’s dark and silent.

A light fades up on the Guy singing “Leave.”

LEAVE

GUY:

I can’t wait forever is all that you said

Before you stood up

And you won’t disappoint me

I can do that myself

But I’m glad that you’ve come

Now if you don’t mind

Leave, leave,

And free yourself at the same time

Leave, leave,

I don’t understand, you’ve already gone

I hope you feel better

Now that it’s out

What took you so long

And the truth has a habit

Of falling outta your mouth

Well now that it’s come

If you don’t mind

Leave, leave,

And please yourself at the same time

Leave, leave,

Let go of my hand

You said what you came to now

Leave, leave,

Let go of my hand

You said what you have to now

Leave, leave,

Leave, leave,

Let go of my hand

You said what you have to now

Leave, leave ...

(He’s finished.

He quietly takes the strap off the guitar and slowly lowers the guitar to the ground.

He turns to leave the stage.

Then from the shadows:)

GIRL: That song you play—is it yours?

(He stops and looks into the darkness but can’t see her just yet.)

I know you can talk I just heard you sing—unless you cannot talk and only sing. If you want you can sing me your answer to my question . . .

GUY (He’s leaving): No thanks.

GIRL: I made you talk just now.

GUY: I could talk already . . .

GIRL: So you write this song?

GUY: Yeah.

GIRL: It’s very good.

GUY: Thanks.

GIRL: You’re welcome. Hello.

GUY: Hey.

(A slight pause.)

GIRL: Is it always me who has to start the conversation?

GUY: Well you seem more up for it than I do.

GIRL: It’s not even my language this English.

GUY: You speak it well.

GIRL: I have an accent.

GUY: We all have accents.

GIRL: We are people of the world.

GUY: Right.

GIRL: Do you enjoy being Irish?

GUY: Seriously?

GIRL: I’m always serious—I’m Czech. Are you enjoying your life right now?

GUY: Sorry, what?! . . .

GIRL: Why do you leave your guitar on the ground?

GUY: I don’t want it anymore.

GIRL: Is it too heavy?

GUY: No.

GIRL: You should pick it up—guitars cost money.

GUY: Look I better go . . .

GIRL: Where?

GUY: To work.

GIRL: What is your work please?

GUY: I fix Hoovers.

GIRL: What is Hoovers?!

GUY: You know . . . vacuum cleaners.

GIRL: You fix vacuum cleaners?! My God, really?!! This is incredible! I have here a vacuum cleaner that needs fixing.

(Somehow a vacuum cleaner has appeared right beside her.)

It was my destiny to meet you today—to listen to your beautiful song—to hear of your fabulous fixing.

GUY: Your destiny?

GIRL: It must be, right?!

GUY: So what’s wrong with it?

GIRL: It doesn’t suck....

Table of contents

• Cover
• Title Page
• Copyright
• Contents
• Preface
• Once
• About the author