Once
Reviewed by Socks Whitmore
Laguna Playhouse
Through March 26
RECOMMENDED
In Dublin, a struggling Irish musician bumps into a young Czech woman and his life changes forever. This is the premise of the 2007 musical film Once, and likewise the stage musical of the same name, both featuring songs by Glen Hansard and Markéta Irglová (including the infamous “Falling Slowly”), with the musical’s book by Enda Walsh. Billed as the only show to have music that has won an Academy Award, a Grammy Award, an Olivier Award, and a Tony Award, Once: The Musical has brought its cultural potluck to the Laguna Playhouse stage. The show sports an ensemble of actor-musicians, a rich array of musical styles, and a simple onstage bar that carries on a unique Once tradition: opening during intermission for drink sales to the audience. Before the show begins, the cast does a charming set of carefree traditional folk songs, pulling triple duty effortlessly by singing, playing, and dancing with gusto.
The story of Once starts with your usual “guy meets girl,” centering on two characters referred to as only “Guy” (Keaton Eckhoff) and “Girl” (Grace Belt). After a chance meeting while Guy is busking, lovelorn and ready to quit music, Girl insists that he can’t give up his artistry and he should follow his ex-girlfriend to New York to be with her. She suggests recording his songs as a way to win his ex back, and proceeds to lead him on a “musical odyssey” to gather a band and pay for a studio session. The attraction between the two is palpable throughout, but Girl continually pushes Guy away, telling him to chase his dreams instead — the nuanced romance comes with twists and turns, perhaps destined from the start for bittersweetness.
The shift from the high energy of the pre-show set to a sleepy opening scene is done unexpectedly quickly, slightly jolting as it flips from upbeat dance numbers to a raw, passionate vocal introduction from Eckhoff’s solo number, “Leave.” As quickly as audiences are plunged into the story, they are introduced to Belt’s lovable Stargirl-like character with sharp comedic timing. Humor abounds in even the music, which includes a small sprinkling of musical jokes and winks. The violinists (Julia Hoffman and Lauren Witman) are especially full of personality and flair. A nod should also be given to William Gibbons-Brown’s smart lighting design, from patterned shadows projected on the ground to the use of hanging fixtures as stars above the set’s secret rooftop.
The gorgeous orchestrations offer not just Irish sounds, but Czech, Spanish, and even a capella choral moments with instruments in hand, supported by well-choreographed musical interludes and sometimes haunting harmonies. The visual storytelling is at times quite striking; in the scene where Guy and Girl approach a banker for a loan, the supporting ensemble stands on and dances around chairs, echoing the lyrics of “Say It To Me Now” within their intelligently directed movements.
In some ways, Once is more concert than musical, using songs not to advance the plot but to be immersed in the moment with the characters and the messy, beautiful lives they’re trying to make. Fans of the film will not be disappointed — the Laguna Playhouse realization of Once: The Musical brings the story to life with vibrance and grace.
Laguna Playhouse, 606 Laguna Canyon Rd., Laguna Beach; Wed.-Fri., 7:30 p.m.; Sat., 2 p.m. & 7:30 p.m.; Sun., 1 p.m. & 5:30 p.m.; through Mar. 26. https://lagunaplayhouse.com/2022-2023-mainstage/once/Running time: two hours and 15 minutes, with one intermission.
