“Once,” the award-winning musical based on the 2007 film, is a stunning slice of life. Two strangers living in Dublin, Ireland, meet and, within days, their friendship is life changing. The minimalist storyline centers on their intense attraction and the hopeless circumstances they face, which they redirect into writing hypnotically tuneful songs.
Most everything about Berkeley Playhouse’s quality production is impressive, from the 13 cast members to the band of musician-actors, the Irish pub…