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“Once, the Musical,” a simple Irish love story about a Dublin boy and a Czech girl, is elevated by a quirky set of characters and an unusual and creative integration of orchestra and performance. The 2012 Tony winner opened last week at the Oregon Cabaret Theatre in Ashland. Music is both salvation and liberation throughout the play. Unlike most other musicals, these musicians don’t sit in a pit or offside. They are center stage actors, singers and musicians who carry the narrative. They are the show. Private and intimate, the cast plays a musical witness to the romantic drama unfolding on the set. Guy, played by Christopher Fordinal, is despondent over a breakup that inspires him to write music no one cares to hear. Girl, a young and beautiful Czech woman played by Olivia Nice, reaches out to Guy and through music gives him the courage to continue. Nice is a remarkable actor. In “Once,” she transforms herself into a Slavic sorceress through posture, movement and expression. She’s not a big, bold, colorful witch, but a slight, somewhat dowdy Czech sprite with hunched shoulders, a sly wit and sudden extravagant gestures. Her loose limbs are natural and relaxed, moving with intention and unexpected grace. As Girl, Nice wears an old sweater and big boots, an oddly beautiful foreigner with unkempt brown hair framing a heart-shaped face and luminous, shadowed eyes that see and understand. Fordinal debuted at OCT with “Million Dollar Quartet” to rave reviews, and his performance in “Once” is just as exciting. Fordinal’s instrument is the guitar, and together with Nice on the piano, Guy and Girl make beautiful music together. Fordinal as Guy is unsure of his own talent and mystified by the attention he gets from Girl’s Czech roommates. Those Czech roommates! They’re new immigrants to Ireland and comically trying to fit in with attitude, music, ambition and sometimes disdain. Reza is played by Charlotte Morris (violin), Svec is played by Paul Henry (percussion) and Andrej is played by Michael Spencer (guitar). Sweet little Izzy Fichera has the role of Ivanka, Girl’s daughter. Livia Genise is Baruska, Girl’s mother (accordion). Michael Spencer’s powerful voice and mobile face were made for his role in “Once” and carried many of the scenes. These talented performers lean into their instruments and are passionately committed to the music. Not to be overlooked is Chuck McLane as Billy, a bullish git on guitar and harmonica whose music shop is the glue that keeps the crew together. Cat Patterson on cello is the bank manager, bringing another level of weird sense into the play. Eight of the 12 “Once” cast members make their Oregon debut in this production. It is a delight to see fresh talent on the stage. “Every year we see between 1,500 and 2,000 actors from all over the country,” explains OCT Artistic Director Valerie Rachelle. OCT auditions in Ashland, but also New York, Los Angeles and Utah. “Casting required that actors play their own instruments,” Rachelle says. “You have to be quadruple-talented.” Several choreographed “Once” numbers involve all performers stamping, stomping and jamming in true Irish style, incredible to see given they are playing instruments (Cat belts on the cello) and singing. “Once” started as a 2007 film written and directed by John Carney. Irish playwright Edna Walsh adapted “Once” for the stage in 2011, with music and lyrics by Glen Hansard and Marketa Irglova. The OCT performance of “Once” is one of the first regional productions after the 2012 Broadway premiere. With this performance, Chef Chris McSevney takes the baton at OCT, bringing European experience and cuisine to the menu. The Scotland native’s offerings for “Once” appropriately included an Irish lamb stew, Guinness chocolate cake and Irish Crème Brule. McSevney says he looks forward to a closer pairing between the menu and OCT productions. “Once, the Musical” continues through July 1, and runs about 2 hours with a 20-minute intermission. There are some expletives and bawdy lines, but nothing to alarm parents of today’s eighth-graders. Ticket and meal reservations may be made online at www.theoregoncabaret.com or by calling the 541-488-2902. Reach Ashland freelance writer Maureen Flanagan Battistella at [email protected].