MUSICAL THEATRE
Music & lyrics by Glen Hansard & Markéta Irglová, book by Enda Walsh
Produced by Darlinghurst Theatre
At Comedy Theatre, Melbourne until 4 June 2023
Reviewer: Kate Herbert
Stars: ****
This review is published only on this blog. I’ll present a radio review on Arts Weekly, 3MBS, on Sat 13 May 2023. kh
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| Once cast- image Robert Catto |
I’ve seen Once thrice! I saw this Once once, and the 2014 Once twice!
Once is a jewel of a musical and its beguiling story, music and characters are uplifting, enchanting and funny, but it is simultaneously an achingly melancholic, theatrical experience.
On the day that a disillusioned, Irish musician, known simply as Guy (Toby Francis), decides to abandon his lacklustre music career in Dublin and surrender to despair about his lost love, he meets a vibrant, relentlessly buoyant young, Czech woman, known as Girl (Stefanie Caccamo), who makes it her mission to revive his love of his music and heal his troubled, lovelorn soul.
In this production, directed deftly and imaginatively by Richard Carroll, a vivacious, multi-talented ensemble of actor/singer/musicians plays Glen Hansard and Markéta Irglová’s eclectic, evocative music live on stage, with each performer being a gem of a different kind.
Enda Walsh injects his witty, beautifully structured script with his wicked, Irish humour, whimsical dialogue, poignant romance and surprising Irish and Czech characters, all of which makes Once a play with music and about music, rather than a traditional musical.
The beating heart of this nearly-a-love-story is Hansard and Irglová’s music and lyrics – much of which featured in John Carney’s original movie – including the lyrical, silky Oscar-winning duet, Falling Slowly, and moving tunes about love and loss such as Gold, The Moon and When Your Mind’s Made Up. But the showstopper in this production was Caccamo singing The Hill, the Girl’s heartbreaking melody.
With its blend of Indy-Rock/Celtic-Rock/Pop-Rock and plenty of minor keys, Hansard and Irglová’s music lulls then surges with piano, violins, cello, guitars, mandolin, banjo, accordion, percussion and more.
Once is ever-so-nearly a love story, but it is poignant because, despite the pair’s meeting of hearts, minds and spirit through music, they are destined not to be together because each has an “unfinished love” to resolve.
Once is heartfelt, positive, and uplifting and it is a musical for people who don’t go to musicals.
By Kate Herbert
CAST
Guy Toby Francis
Girl Stefanie Caccamo
Bank Manager Anthony Craig
Ex-Girlfriend/Female Cover Ruby Clark
Eamon Clay Crighton
Reza Victoria Falconer
Svec Pavan Kumar Hari
Da Jay Laga’aia
Andrej /Guy Understudy Abe Mitchell
Billy Rupert Reid
Emcee/Swing Patrick Schnur
Baruska Jennifer Trijo
Understudy Billie Palin
CREATIVE TEAM
Director Richard Carroll
Musical Director Victoria Falconer
Movement Director & Associate Producer Amy Campbell
Set and Costume Designer Hugh O’Connor
Lighting Designer Peter Rubie
Sound Designer Dylan Robinson
Winner
· 8 Tony Awards
· 4 Drama Desk Awards
· 1 Academy Award
· 1 Grammy Award
· 1 Olivier Award
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