Once

Gaiety, Dublin Previews Feb 22-25 Opens Feb 26-Mar 9 7.30pm €49.50/€29.50 (Sat mat 2pm €39.50/€21.50) gaietytheatre.ie

Guy meets Girl. Guy and Girl talk music on Grafton Street. Girl brings broken vacuum cleaner to Guy. Guy fixes vacuum. Girl pleased. Guy and Girl make beautiful music together (literally). Love meets marine forecast metaphor in Falling Slowly lyrics. (Tear meets eye. Allergies excuse meets general incredulity.) Guy tries it on with Girl. Girl rejects Guy. Guy and Girl continue making beautiful music together. Guy and Girl go separate ways. John Carney’s charming film ends.

Film meets World. World and Film hit it off. Stars make beautiful music together (literally and figuratively). Falling Slowly meets Oscar. World delighted.

Film meets Stage. Stage and Film talk about making beautiful musical together. World dubious. Enda Walsh on board to write the book. World curious. John Tiffany directs. World breathless. Musical opens in New York, transfers to Broadway, wins rapturous plaudits and hoovers up almost every Tony going. Sinking boat meets showstopper. World waits impatiently.

Broadway meets West End version. World unsurprised. West End version plans to open in Dublin (take this sinking boat and point it home). Dublin content with news, considers it about time, frankly, gagging to hear the accents and to let it all happen once again.

Guy meets Girl . . .

Can’t See That? Catch This

The Ladykillers Bord Gáis Energy Theatre, Dublin