Stuart Ward and Dani de Waal

This is all about Guy (Stuart Ward) and Girl (Dani de Waal). She is Czech, has a young daughter, and is still married but not so happily. They meet in a pub, wonderfully designed by Bob Crowley (who also provides costumes), in Dublin. Mirrors line the rear wall and instruments abound. Before the actual scripted performance begins, musicians come on stage to warm up, sing some tunes. The audience is invited to hang out with them, too.

Guy (that designation irks me, too) repairs vacuum cleaners to make a living. He excels when he grabs his guitar and performs his compositions. His love interest has gone off to New York City and, as Guy, Ward looks red-eyed and bereft a fair portion of the time. He is more than a trifle down on his luck and prospects. Girl, living with her mother, is feisty, smart, and plays the piano. She calls Guy out immediately and refuses to listen to some of his lame banter. That said, Girl is attracted to Guy; and the feeling is most mutual. Early on, these two combine voices on the moving, everlasting "Falling Slowly," which is featured, in reprise, at the final curtain. The film version of the song won an Academy Award.

The music is superlative throughout the evening. Ensemble players bring spirit and expertise. Evan Harrington, playing Billy (who happens to own a piano store), is funny and extroverted. One of Girl's friends is the alluring Reza, played with drive and awareness by Erica Swindell. She dances up a storm and also plays violin. John Steven Gardner plays a wide variety of instruments, including piano, guitar, and harmonica. Director John Tiffany positions the musicians (during sequences when they are watching) on chairs surrounding the leading actors. At times, the instrumentalists break out to accompany or literally propel the show forward. Steven Hoggett's movement assistance is not to be underestimated. The performers, utilizing limited space, fly about. This has the feel of a community since many of these people, one assumes, have known one another for years. The entire experience is enhanced by Martin Lowe's music supervision and orchestrations. The combination of banjo, guitar, piano, accordions, violins, mandolin, and the like fuels the production, keeps it in active mode.

The love story is what Once is all about. Girl refuses to take much of Guy's near-weepy talk. He explains to her that he did write his songs for someone else but now they are meant for her, Girl. That seems like just a bit much. On the other hand, the music carries the show and Girl perceives that Guy is a talent. That they have eyes for one another is genuine. Never do they dramatically engage in a physical sense and she once alludes to what she terms hanky-panky and her resistance to that. Ward and de Waal are well-cast. Each is tender but that manifests in different ways. It is true that deciphering the lyrics as Guy sings "Leave" to open the show requires great effort. Dani de Waal is distinctive and her rendering of "The Hill" in the second act is smashing.

The first portion of Once is not always sustaining, but it does include a splendid ballad performed by actor Scott Waara who plays Da. The final portion is tighter and filled with special moments. This is an intimate piece and, frankly, it was to advantage to sit within proximity of the stage. From that vantage point, one sees facial expressions and is able to determine whether fair-haired de Wall and scruffy Ward have couple potential, or whether this bittersweet meeting will forever rest unfulfilled.

Once continues at the Bushnell Theater in Hartford, Connecticut through May 31st, 2015. For tickets, call the box office at (860) 987-5900 or visit bushnell.org. For more information on the tour, visit oncemusical.com.

Photo: Joan Marcus

- Fred Sokol