Susan Granger’s review of “Once” (Ivoryton Playhouse)
“Once” began as John Carney’s charming, low-budget, independent movie, made in Dublin, about a down-on-his-luck Irish busker who falls in love with a classical pianist from Czechoslovakia. It was a humble hit at Sundance and with art-house audiences back in 2007. Its stars – Glen Hansard of the Irish rock band, the Frames, and Marketa Irglova – became a real-life couple, as their song “Falling Slowly” won an Oscar in 2008.
Astutely sensing the theatrical possibilities, producers staged it first at a Cambridge, Mass., repertory theater, then as a modest Off-Broadway musical, before moving it onto the Great White Way, where it won eight 2012 Tony Awards, including Best Musical and Best Book (Edna Walsh).
Envisioned by astute director/choreographer Ben Hope (who played the male lead on Broadway as a replacement), it’s now back in a smaller venue, which better suits the evocative love story, along with the exuberant actors/musicians who play their own instruments onstage – providing a tuneful welcome as the audience arrives.
As the leading man Guy, Sam Sherwood embodies youthful fear and angst, mixed with newly awakened passion, while Katie Barton, as the Girl, estranged from her husband, lives with her mother, Baruska (Marcy McGuigan), young daughter and dysfunctional Hoover vacuum cleaner. She’s tart; he’s tender. They meet – and, suddenly, their lives become enriched with possibilities.
Since the plot is, admittedly, thin, it’s fortunate that Ben Hope supplies a strong supporting cast, including Margaret Dudaik, as Girl’s BFF Riza, and Stephen G. Anthony as lovelorn Billy, who owns the music shop where Girl plays the piano.
Jonathan Brown delivers comic relief as caffeine-drenched Svec, who is learning English from watching soap operas, and Morgan Morse, as ambitious Andrej – along with Andreina Kasper as the cello-playing bank manager and Rachel Mulcahy as Guy’s ex-girlfriend.
This excellent production is designed by Glenn Bassett with musical direction by Eric Anthony, lighting by Marcus Abbott and costumes by Cully Long.
You can catch “Once” at the Ivoryton Playhouse – 103 Main Street in Ivoryton – thru October 14. For ticket information, call the box-office at 860-767-7318 or visit the website at www.ivorytonplayhouse.org.