An important and touching play, with references to the tragedy of the Holocaust, is currently playing in the San Diego area. The North Coast Repertory Theatre production of Jon Marans’ “Old Wicked Songs” plays through May 31. Add “Old Wicked Songs” to a string of fine North Coast Repertory Theatre productions of late. Artistic director David Ellenstein directs the two-hander, which concerns brilliant young American pianist Stephen Hoffman (Tom Zohar), who at 25 is burned out and unable to play. He goes to Vienna to study with a renowned pedagogue named Schiller, but winds up instead with a prerequisite in the form of a peculiar vocal coach named Josef Mashkan (Robert Grossman), with whom he must study German lieder before Schiller is willing to take him on. Stephen’s arrogance and sense of entitlement are shaken by the insistent and seemingly anti-Semitic Prof. Mashkan, who charges him for the pastries he consumes and insists he learn the whole of Robert Schumann’s Dichterliebe in order to put both joy and sorrow back into his artistry. What develops is a deep bond between the two men, heightened by these two fine actors, who have developed such gemutlichkeit that one is mournful when the evening ends. It’s a magical production to be cherished and remembered, the like of which will never be seen again. “Old Wicked Songs” continues through May 31 only at North Coast Repertory, 987-D Lomas Santa Fe Drive, Solana Beach, www.northcoastrep.org or (858) 481-1055.