The musical play “Once” is based on the Academy Award winning
film of the same name. It is a love story that takes place
over the course of a week between the two protagonists, Girl (Catie Brady) who
is a Czech national and busker Guy (Michael Louis Cusimano) who is an Irish
street musician/ Hoover repairman. (“Broken Hearted Hoover Fixer”)
They meet up in an Irish Pub after she wanders on to the
scene where he is playing his latest work. In spite of all that says no, they venture
into a friendship that leads to a short- lived love almost fairy tale affair.
(“Falling Slowly”).
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| Catie Grady and Michael Louis Cusimano |
“Once” described as charming, different, whimsical, original
and daring is based on the 2006 movie of the same name, sans music. The stage
adaptation with book by Edna Walsh and songs by Markéta Itglová (including the
Academy Award song, “Falling Slowly”) premiered in 2011 at The New York Theatre
Workshop and moved to Broadway 2012 where it won 11 Tony Award nominations.
It came through San Diego via Broadway/San Diego in 2014 on
its National Tour and yours truly was more than disappointed in the production
staged in the too large, no connection to any of the characters, venue of the
Civic Theatre. It’s a small and intimate show.
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| Cast of "Once" at Lamb's Players |
Enter Lamb’s Players Theatre and their amazing and
exceptional ensemble, and astute and talented in her own right, director Kerry
Meads who gives this production, yes, heart and choreographed by Colleen Kollar
Smith and voila! All is right with the world with one exception, the sound (Patrick
Duffy) was oft times inaudible and it was difficult to make out the lyrics.
The star-crossed lovers, Girl and Guy though never admitting
it, travel a ‘road not taken’. She is a single mother, not divorced and he is
recently alone since his ‘once love’ left him for New York. Both are serious in
this new relationship of theirs that doesn’t really come together, but ‘once’
in a lifetime, and not until the end; it’s a work in progress throughout.
He lives with his Da (a soft spoken softie Kent Brisby) above
the Hoover Shop and she lives with other Czech nationals, all musicians; her
mother Baruska (a peppy and animated Deborah Gilmour Smyth with a wonderful
Czech accent “Ej Padá Padá Rosicka”) and young daughter Ivonka (a charming Bianca
Rodriguez on opening night).
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| Michael Louis Cusimano with Bianca Rodriguez (Catie Grady and Deborah Gilmour Smyth in background) |
Most of the action takes place in a Dublin Pub/ Music Shop (designed by Sean Fanning) and belonging to high
spirited but hilarious guitar playing Billy (Manny Fernandes.) What else does
this talented guy do? His larger than life presence weaves humor throughout.
In the Pub before the show, patrons wander up to the bar and
order drinks while the entire cast, musicians every one of them, sing, stomp,
dance and move between patrons until Cusimano walks into the Pub and soulfully
sings the song he wrote for his then girlfriend. “Leave”.
He closes his guitar case and heads to the swinging doors
when Girl steps in and stops him. From there it’s a push me pull you battle of
how she encourages him to continue on in his career as a musician while he
supports and encourages her musicianship on piano. “Falling Slowly”.
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| Cusimano and Grady (Photo by Chris Turner) |
Both leads are solid and persuasive with a good amount of
electricity between them. Catie Grady’s Girl blew my mind in a role tailor
made for her. As a company member and a Lamb’s Associate Artist she has been
seen in many roles on this stage, but her heartfelt, heartbreaking performance on opening night took her to depths not seen
before. Her performance is absolutely stunning. Her times at the piano are top notch as well.
The large (12 member) ensemble of musicians are the spirit
and backbone of this high-energy show that sports some amazing musicians that
play a variety of interesting instruments and sing their way through an
assortment of Irish music enough so to warm the heart of any Irishman, and then
some, in the audience.
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| Cast of "Once" |
The clever use of the musicians some of who are on stage
throughout and every now and then become characters in their own musical. They
are also ready during whatever scene changes take place to move props here and
there. There are also some pretty active movements along the way creating an
easy flow for characters to come and go.
The array of instruments as the mandolin, guitar, banjo, drum
set and percussions, accordion and concertina, melodica, ukulele, cello,
electric bass, violin and of course piano all speak to a musical show that is
at once a rowdy and foot stomping to tenderness and lauding. “Gold”
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| Manny Rodrigues and Catie Grady |
Those with instruments carried on and off stage (musical direction
by G. Scott Lacy) Temi Hason has her own carry on cello. Multi talented, she
sings and acts and does all with confidence and vim. Luke Monday is wonderful
on his violin. James Michael Hale is the banker asked to give Guy a loan so he
can rent out a sound studio to make some CD”s. He’s the guy with the fancy
guitar (“Abandoned In Brandon”).
Arusi Santi as Svec (last seen in Moxie’s “Ironbound) is a
hoot as he drops his draws to muffle his loud drums. Abigail Allwein, Dave
Rumley and Jimmy Marino complete the musically skilled cast.
Rounding out the all inclusive and all around authentic look
of the show are Jeanne Reith’s costumes, Nathan Peirson’s lighting and of
course Sean Fanning’s all purpose double deck set overlooking the water from up
above and Dublin Bar downstairs where the energy and music overflows and
sentiment, hope and love percolates.
Like other award winning musicals Lamb’s Players Theater has mounted,
“Once” is high up on the list.
“You’ve gotta have heart” and this one, above all, has lot’s
and lot’s of it.
Next up how about “Come From Away”?
See you at the theatre.
Dates: Through July 22nd
Organization: Lamb’s Players Theatre
Phone: 679-437-6000
Production Type: Musical
Where: 1142 range Ave. Coronado, CA. 92178
Ticket Prices: Start at $28.00
Web: lambsplayers.org
Photo: Ken Jacques
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