Written by orange• February 3, 2026• 4:39 am• Anaheim, Musical, Review, Uncategorized

Once @ Chance Theater – Review

Photos by Doug Catiller

Written by Patrick Chavis

Once, the musical, is playing now at the Chance Theater, January 23 – March 1, 2026.

The Chance Theater presents: Once, the musical, inspired by the international indie film that rocked cinema during the early 2000s. Its success, especially given its shoestring budget, proved a good story doesn’t always need fancy bells and whistles to get a point across.

Story:

Are we losing that a little in our storytelling these days? Whether on stage or screen, it’s increasingly easier to pick up a camera and use digital effects. In contrast, some artists have discussed how limitations helped them explore their concepts even further because they had to work with what they had. I think it’s both. With more options, artists now need to be even more conscious of their choices. Even if you can achieve something easier with digital effects, maybe more thought should be spent on whether it should be.

Set Design/Lighting:

I promise I have a point. I go on this long diatribe to say, this production of Once, at the Chance, directed by James Michael Mchale, a long-time collaborator at the Chance, does exactly that. There’s a stripped-down quality to this show, not because it had to be, but because it’s essential to the story. From the simplicity of the colorful yet substantial cityscape set by designer Bradley Kaye in the background of the set that stretches from side to side of the Bette Aitken Theater, to the very grounded pub-like projections from Nick Santiago.

Jacqueline Malenke’s haunting lighting set the tone of the show and brought it to a professional level. A ghostly aesthetic seems so bizarre for this musical, but the images and the way they were paired with songs like “The Hill” and “If You Want Me” were out of this world. It’s subtle, but the ghostly aesthetic is woven throughout this show feels right at home in this story. It is masterfully executed through the use of space and shadow.

For such a spirited musical, the choreography lacked spunk at times.

Acting:

I could not say the same for the performance from Emma Laird, who plays Girl in this production. Accent on point. She has spunk for days — nay weeks. Giving the dry but straightforward attitude of Girl in one moment and the torment that unrequited love can have on the spirit in another, her performance was like nothing I’ve seen in this musical.

Watching Will Huse play Billy makes you forget, for a minute, that the musical isn’t about Billy, because there’s such a great story behind his character that, honestly, could stand on its own. I don’t believe you could say that about many of the characters in Once.

Jennifer Richardson plays Baruska Girls mother in this piece with a similarly serious yet welcoming approach to the role, with a promising performance of “Ej Pada Pada” in the first act.

Sometimes, like the title of the play, you only get to experience something once, so try to enjoy those moments while you can. In the case of Once at the Chance, you have many more opportunities to check this one out.

Note: Get to the theater early for the pre-show performance, 20 minutes before the curtain.