Review: On Theater: South Coast Repertory puts on an energetic, musical Irish show with ‘Once’

What sort of romantic comedy doesn’t name its principal couple and never has them lock lips during the show? In all probability, it’s only happened “Once.”

Whether or not those circumstances inspired the title of South Coast Repertory’s season-launching production is open to speculation, but the unique quality of this Tony-winning, Irish-flavored musical makes it definitely one-of-a-kind, particularly given director Kent Nicholson’s invigorating staging.

“Once” stands apart from its contemporaries in several respects. Based on the movie written and directed by John Carney, this more-intimate stage version from Enda Walsh (book) and the team of Glen Hansard and Marketa Inglova (music and lyrics) balances an often-baffling plot with a stellar musical score.

Following the pre-show festivities in which playgoers join the cast on stage, “Once” transitions into the charming meeting of a Dublin pub musician and singer dubbed only “Guy” (Rustin Cole Sailors) and a Czech lass known only as “Girl” (Amanda Leigh Jerry), whose vacuum cleaner needs repairs because “It doesn’t suck.”

Fortunately, Guy fixes Hoovers, and thus begins what can best be described as a “deep friendship.” He’s got a sweetie who has moved to the USA, while she has an estranged husband and a little daughter. It’s a strange set up, but actors Sailors and Jerry make it work wonderfully.

Sailors unveils his booming voice right off the bat with the solo “Leave,” while Jerry joins him in the next number, “Falling Slowly,” in which the audience is free to assume...well, its own assumptions. This is just a friendship, remember.

Soon the energetic ensemble sweeps into motion, each member with an instrument. Their lusty coalescence is the strength of the show, the more-intimate SCR environs contributing to an immediacy and accessibility missing from its first local appearance.

There’s only one drawback — the Irish dialects often strain vocal fluidity to the point where subtitles would be appropriate (they’re actually employed at one blink-and-you-miss-it point).

Key supporting performances are delivered by Scott Waara as the Guy’s gentle father, Nicholas Mongiardo-Cooper as the burly pub proprietor and Andy Taylor as a music-loving bank manager.

Diane King Vann, a former musical director and instructor at SCR, makes a welcome return as Baruska, the Girl’s mother. Scott Anthony is terrific as pub entertainer Eamon, but one unnamed band member’s eruptions of rage are never addressed nor explained.

One could enjoy “Once” for its music alone, but its semi-romantic plot will keep many enthralled. It’s a rousing repast, lovingly concocted and lavishly prepared at South Coast Repertory.

Masterson leaving South Coast Repertory

South Coast Repertory has announced that artistic director Marc Masterson will be leaving the company at the end of the 2017-18 season.

Masterson, who is starting his seventh season as the successor to founding artistic directors David Emmes and Martin Benson, will stage “Shakespeare in Love” in January as well as leading programming for the 2018-19 season.

Under Masterson’s leadership, SCR has increased its production of world premieres by more than 40% and launched two major community-based initiatives.

If You Go

What: “Once”

When: Through Sept. 30

Where: South Coast Repertory, 655 Town Center Drive, Costa Mesa

Cost: Tickets start at $29

Information: (714) 708-5555 or visit scr.org.

TOM TITUS reviews local theater.