Once

For a musical it seems odd to have a male lead who is depressive and uncharismatic.

Guy (Toby Francis) sings (beautifully) about his lost love on the streets of Dublin: he’s also about to dump his guitar and throw in all music ambitions.

But what Guy lacks in charisma and optimism he certainly makes up in authenticity. It obviously draws in a Czech passerby, simply called The Girl, who then spends the show building his confidence, getting him back to the pub band, into the studio, and even to retrieving his lost love.

It’s not the usual Boy/Girl cliché of musicals.  Francis and the appealing, super melodious Stefanie Caccamo circle each other movingly in their unacknowledged affair.

Another thrilling innovation is having Glen Hansard and Marketa Irglova’s music and lyrics played on stage by the actors, swinging their instruments as they sing, act and dance atop the stools in an Irish pub. With Peter Rubie’s fine, often melancholic spot lighting, the pub transforms easily to other settings, and we’re fully immersed in the kinetic fun of these musician/actors.

The cast of 12 are certainly experienced with this Once; most have been with it through Sydney seasons in 2019, in 2021, and now, and touring elsewhere. Hailing from the States, the original stage show was developed from the movie by Dubliner John Carney.   

Richard Carroll’s production is polished, well-detailed and perfectly paced.  There’s some sameness to this musical mix of Irish jig, sunny pop and poetic ballad but it stirs even the coldest hearts, with thanks to musical director Victoria Falconer.

The pub is chock full of eccentric characters, with notable performances by Rupert Reid, Drew Livingston, Ruby Clark, Emma Price and Pavan Kumar Hari.  And credit to Amy Campbell for their rushes of movement as they swing their acoustic guitars, violins, cella, drum boxes, accordions and a piano on busy wheels.

Martin Portus

Photographer: Robert Catto