By Britin Haller
People come into our lives for a reason, a season, or a lifetime. Just ask the characters in Once – A Musical who would no doubt agree. Now playing at the Maltz Jupiter Theatre, Once tells the story of two young people, a guy and a girl, who meet-cute and quickly add value to each other’s lives. But what happens then?
Spawning off John Carney’s 2007 film of the same name, Once became an overnight Broadway sensation garnering eleven Tony nominations in 2012, and winning eight including Best Musical and Best Book. Pre-show excitement was high as Once – A Musical has a cult following not often seen in this genre of show business.
It’s 2007, and a cute street busker (performer) in Dublin is playing his acoustic guitar while singing a sad love song about a recent break-up. A pretty girl comes up to speak with him. Her vacuum cleaner is broken, and by coincidence, as often happens in meet-cutes, he fixes vacuum cleaners on the side in a shop with his father. The girl has no money to pay him with so she offers him the gift of her talent, and they go to a nearby music store called Billy’s. What happens next is a ride Guy is not expecting, and is definitely not ready for, as Girl brings him into her somewhat crazy world.
As per the audition notice, most performers in the cast must be quadruple threats, meaning they need to sing, dance, and act, yes, but also play an instrument. According to their actor bios in the playbill, many of them have appeared in a production of Once – A Musical at least once before.
As Guy, Jack Wesley Gerhard, is the perfect blend of curiosity and skepticism. After all, if something seems too good to be true, it probably is. And even though Girl leaves him frustrated, he’s definitely intrigued. His rendition of “Leave,” a song he wrote for his ex-girlfriend, who left him to pursue her dream in NYC, is haunting.
As Girl, Erica Swindell, has a way about her. She’s exasperating, yes, but charming. A Czech immigrant, she lives in Dublin now with her mother, her daughter, and a host of other musicians like herself. It’s a household full of loud voices, dancing, and lots of love. Swindell is an excellent piano player, but just once it would be nice if they turned her so we can see her hands on the keyboards. Otherwise, the question of is she really playing will remain.
Like the Cowardly Lion in The Wizard of Oz, Evan Harrington as Billy, the loveable music store owner, has a bark worse than his bite. Harrington flusters and blusters, but ultimately shows us that underneath it all, he’s nothing but a great big pussy-cat. The stage lights up whenever Harrington is on it, and his scenes with Megan Loomis, as Reza, are touching because we want that so badly for him.
Stephen McIntyre is the bank manager in a funny bit about a loan, while David Lutken is Guy’s father, Da, a man who obviously loves his son and wishes he could do more to help him. As part of their First Step to Stardom program, the Maltz is using two unpaid non-professional actors in the role of Girl’s daughter, Ivonka. They are Sophia Bobolia and Addison Ramirez. Addison studies the violin, so one can hope maybe someday we will see her again in Once, starring as Reza.
Playing their comic relief roles well are two of Girl’s flatmates, the soap opera loving Morgan Morse as Andrej, and Douglas Goodhart as Svec. Larry Tobias, Sam Sherwood, and EJ Zimmerman, who appears briefly as Guy’s ex-Girl, add to the enjoyment.
Not surprisingly, the set and costumes are minimalistic with props being the instruments. Even though the span of the show is five days, no one changes their attire, including Guy in his very wrinkled jeans which aren’t doing him any favors. Glad to know the answer to the age-old question is boxers though.
Many people who don’t typically like musicals like Once, citing the simplicity of the book by Enda Walsh, characters who feel real, and the magical songwriting written mostly by Glen Hansard and Markéta Irglová. Not only did they win a Grammy for Best Musical Theater Album in 2013, but an Oscar for Best Original Song (“Falling Slowly”) for the film version in which they starred. Tunes like this well-known classic, with Swindell on piano, Gerhard on guitar, and the cast as the orchestra in the background, resonate long after the last note is sung.
Other favorites are “Sleeping,” “Say It To Me Now,” and “When Your Mind’s Made Up.” As well as “If You Want Me,” “The Moon,” and “The Hill.” And Fergus O’Farrell’s “Gold.” And … oh, forget it, all the songs are great.
Returning to the Maltz is Director Mark Martino, who also choreographed the terrific Irish dance moves. As Musical Director, Maggie Hollinbeck has a lot of balls to juggle, miraculously not dropping any. On stage, she brings to life Girl’s loving and wise mother, Baruška. Special applause for Kirk Bookman and Scott Stauffer on lighting and sound, and the Maltz’s go-to dialect coach, Jennifer Burke, whom we know did her job well because the Irish accents were nailed, never more so than when dropping one of many F bombs.
Speaking of F bombs, anyone who is thinking of taking their children, or is sensitive to profanity, be warned. Once – A Musical is chock full of that word, something the audience on opening night seemed to revel in, as the laughter got louder anytime one was tossed out.
So in the end, for the cult followers in the audience (of which this critic is quickly becoming one,) once is not enough. They will want to go back again, and again, before the Maltz run ends. After all, music and friendship are the best medicine for what ails ya. Don’t forget to head to your seats at least twenty minutes before curtain to join the cast members (who aren’t Guy and Girl) in a jam session with some downhome Irish hootenanny.
Tip: Go early, or stay late (but not too late!), because the upstairs and downstairs lobbies of The Maltz are filled with a forest of magic in an exhibit called Holiday Communi-TREES. In the spirit of giving back, thirty-two (last year was only twenty!) not-for-profits adorned Hayes Farms Frazier firs donated by the Tampa General Hospital/USF Health Morsani College of Medicine, and throughout the run of Once – A Musical, theatre-goers will vote on their favorite. Sponsors Roe Green and the Roe Green Foundation, John Osher, and Eileen Weissmann will then award the winning charity with a cash prize to further their mission, and silent auction winners, who fell in love with, and bid on, a particular tree, will take it home in plenty of time for the holiday. Any monies raised go to the respective charity.
And ladies and gentlemen, it’s almost 2025. We should all be more aware of other’s sensitivities by now, so can we please not bathe ourselves in perfume or cologne when we go out in public? According to a certain well-regarded medical source on the Internet, 2.5 million Americans (including this critic) are allergic to fragrances that can cause them sinus issues, migraines, and a whole host of other problems, including a deadly reaction requiring an EpiPen. One shouldn’t have to take their life in their hands to go to the theater. Let’s do better. Really, we only want to have to tell you Once.
Britin Haller is a freelance author and an editor for Turner Publishing. Her latest short story “So Many Shores in Crookland” can be read in the 150th issue of Black Cat Weekly. Britin’s latest edit, a cozy mystery novel called Dumpster Dying is by Michelle Bennington and available where books are sold. Find Britin across social media.
Once – A Musical plays through December 15th at the Maltz Jupiter Theatre, 1001 East Indiantown Road, Jupiter, FL (immediately east of A1A); Shows are nightly Wed-Fri @ 7:30 p.m. and Sat @ 8 p.m. Wed, Sat and Sun matinees are at 2 p.m. Limited tickets still available. Running time approx. 120 minutes with a 15-minute intermission. Tickets starting at $50. Call 561-575-2223, or visit jupitertheatre.org.
