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Once On This Island
by Xavier/Brophy Theatre 
Hans Christian Andersen’s classic tale of The
Little Mermaid has been adapted by Rosa Guy into the beautiful,
heartbreaking, but hopeful story of the peasant island girl Ti Moune who falls
in love with Daniel, a son of the French nobility that rules her Caribbean
island. Her love is so strong that she makes a deal with Papa Ge, the Demon of
Death, to sacrifice her life in order to save Daniel's. But class and racial
prejudices are strong emotions as well, and the Frenchman Daniel may not be
willing to defy his family and his upbringing that seek to keep the two apart.
It’s a powerful and touching story of hopeless love, and of one girl who still
loves despite its hopelessness. Lynn Ahrens and Stephen Flaherty (Ragtime,
Seussical) have transformed the story into a highly popular musical full of
poetic lyrics, engaging reggae, and mesmerizing ballads. THE PRODUCTION: Director Janice
Robillard and her cast and creative team at Xavier/Brophy Theatre delivered
a highly impressive production of Once On
This Island. Nathan Ward’s set
has a pair of stairs and ladders leading up to a catwalk where the gods are
often perched in the sky above their mortals, and in the right-hand corner grows
a stylistic, symbolic tree. Raining down from the sky are some gorgeous effects
by Lighting Designer Jonah Nelson
beautifying the island world and setting the mood. The cast is packed with talents, led by Ali Getz starring as Ti Moune. Her charisma and vocals drive the
bright scenes as she prays to embark on her unique destiny, inspires the
nobility to dance, and plays with the inhabitants of the island teeming with
life. And when things are darkest, she powerfully captures the sadness and fear.
That includes her movingly The other gods include Sammi
Bennett with some warm and beautiful singing as the goddess of love, more
great vocals by god of water Jack Rose
bringing down the dramatic Rain, and Talia
Khan leading a spirited Mama Will
Provide. Jacob Browning delivers a sonorous ballad of Some Girls. And his girl Andrea (Sedona Urias-Ramonett) brings yet more remarkable vocals and a
terrific performance as her jealousy subsides to pity for the naïve island
girl. Rounding out the cast is a large and dynamic ensemble of storytelling
singers, dancers, and actors who elevate the production throughout with their
vibrancy in Mama Will Provide, drama
in Pray, and hope in Why We Tell the Story. Performed October 16 - 19, 2013 Rob Hopper ~ Cast ~
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THE
SHOW:
portrayed
parting with her parents – Jeremiah
Johnson as Tonton Julian who reluctantly knows he has to let her follow her
path, and Liz McGovern whose lovely vocals and heartbreak as Mama Euralie all
combine for a poignant Ti Moune. And
it includes the fear as she faces the god of death, Phillip Rapa as an entertaining Papa Ge, in the haunting Forever
Yours.
Payton Bioletto