Once — Darlinghurst Theatre Company

Overview

Smash-hit musical Once has garnered an impressive array of awards. First, as an indie film by John Carney, and later, as a Broadway production adapted by Enda Walsh — its quirky telling of guy-meets-girl, along with its otherworldly lyricism, has seen Once captivate audiences worldwide.

And thanks to Darlinghurst Theatre Company, this winter will mark the Sydney debut of the stage production. Director Richard Carroll's rendition will boast a star-studded local cast and feature the show's peerless musical score — one that has seen it score a Grammy, a Tony and an Academy Award. Once will run for a limited season at Darlinghurst's Eternity Playhouse.

A brief synopsis: Once opens in a charming and grungy Dublin pub. There, we meet Guy, who plays gigs at this sort of locale while pining over his unfaithful ex-girlfriend (a backstory wonderfully evoked in the song 'Broken Hearted Hoover Fixer Sucker Guy'). guy is packing up his guitar when Girl, a young Czech immigrant enchanted by his music, approaches him. We soon discover that Girl is also a musician. And, perhaps more importantly, for Once's narrative purposes at least, Girl is the owner of a broken 'hoover'.

The rest of the show charts the transient but intense intimacy Guy and Girl form through their shared love of creating music. To borrow the reviewer's now well-worn catchphrase: a show like this only comes around Once.

Images: Robert Catto.