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A ‘Once’ in a lifetime opportunity for actor
By John Benson
Canton native Barry DeBois remembers the first time he saw 2007 indie film “Once.”
“It was the summer of 2008, and I absolutely fell in love with it,” said DeBois, calling from Washington, D.C. “It’s one of those films that if it hits you at the right time in your life, you’re attached to it. At the time I was going through a breakup.
“It’s a really interesting story with such beautiful music. I already played guitar, but I started learning songs from that movie with friends.”
The film was written and directed by John Carney, and starred Glen Hansard and Marketa Irglova. The latter two also provided original music and lyrics.
As for the stage production, “Once” was named Best Musical by five awarding bodies. The Broadway production ran for more than 1,100 performances before touring the globe.
“Once” tells the story of an Irish musician and a Czech immigrant drawn together by their shared love of music. Over the course of one fateful week, their unexpected friendship and collaboration evolves into a powerful but complicated romance, heightened by the raw emotion of the songs they create together.
Another aspect of the movie is to pursue your dreams no matter what barriers you may find in your way. Looking back, DeBois, who graduated from Stark State with an engineering degree, said that was the message he subconsciously took away from “Once.”
“I was doing a lot of community theater in Northeast Ohio,” DeBois said. “I heard enough times from enough people I respected that I could do this professionally. I figured I might as well try this out while I’m relatively young.”
So just like the character of Guy in “Once,” DeBois took the leap in 2010 and move to New York.
Today, the actor finds himself as Music Captain (basically an understudy) for the roles of Guy and Emcee in the touring production of “Once,” which comes to E.J. Thomas Hall in Akron on Tuesday and Wednesday.
The biggest difference between the movie and the stage production is audiences are immersed into a fuller musical experience.
“It’s a simple love story, told in an interesting and honest way,” DeBois said. “I think anybody can see themselves in one or more of the characters. And then the music on top of it just sweeps you in.”