ASU Gammage in Tempe, Arizona is known for bringing the best that Broadway has to offer to the desert, and this month the musical Once on This Island brings a taste of the Caribbean. Once on This Island premiered on Broadway in 1990, and then the West End in 1994, where it won best musical at the Laurence Olivier Awards. The original musical is based off the book My Love, My Love; or The Peasant Girl by Rosa Guy. The Revival of Once on This Island opened in 2017 with the National tour beginning in October of 2019. Book and lyrics are by Lynn Ahrens with music by Stephen Flaherty in this one-act musical about a poor girl hoping to heal racial separation with the power of love.
The story begins with small and frightened Ti Moune (Courtnee Carter) who is the sole survivor of a terrible storm. She is adopted by a couple Tonton Julian (Jay Donnell) and Mama Euralie (Danielle Lee Greaves) who believe she has been spared by the gods. As the girl grows, she begins to have an infatuation with a wealthy man that drives by in his car, a luxury to the poor Island people. The gods see Ti Moune’s longing and decide to make a wager. Erzulie (Cassondra James) the goddess of love claims that love can be stronger than even death. This does not please the powerful Papa Ge (Tamyra Gray), the demon of Death. The gods decide to give Ti Moune what she wants by causing a great storm created by the god of Water, Agwe (Jahmaul Bakare). The handsome Daniel (Tyler Hardwick) crashes his car and is saved by the young Ti Moune. who lovingly nurses him back to health. As these two social and racial classes come together a love is formed that will challenge all that is expected and understood on this island.
Every actor in this production shines in their respective characters. This is truly an ensemble piece where the storytellers are just as important as the main characters. It is the combination of all the talents onstage that tell the story of Ti Moune. Carter’s Ti Moune is gentle in her naive hope of love, while fierce in her devotion to Daniel. Hardwick’s Daniel shows nice emotional conflict about love, especially in his song “Some Girls”. However, it was the four gods, James’ Erzuile, Gray’s Papa Ge, Bakare’s Agwe, and the goddess of mother earth Asaka (Kyle Ramar Freeman) that brought down the house. Each of the gods fully embrace the essence of their responsibility in the story. The goddess of love, Erzuile, has a quiet power and influence that is shown both in song and in playing the flute. Agwe’s thunder storm that creates the chance for the two worlds to meet has real presence and drama. Freeman’s Asaka brings levity and joy, but it was Gray’s Papa Ge that is the real stand out of an already outstanding group. Gray makes the audience uncomfortable as she stalks around the stage, looking for the next victim to fall to the demon of death. Although a small woman, Gray has presence that would make a grown man cry out for his mother. Having such strong actors in each role helps the audience to forget that they are watching a performance and to only focus on the story.
This story was beautifully crafted by director Michael Arden, who received a directing nomination at the Tony Awards. This nomination was greatly deserved with the artistry in all of the different elements on the stage came together is nothing short of clever. Creating a car out of scraps of metal, to showcasing a story within a story using shadow puppetry, Arden’s impact is felt throughout the performance. It helps that a brilliant team of Costumes (Clint Ramos), Lighting (Jules Fisher and Peggy Eisenhauer), Sound Design (Peter Hylenski), and Set Design (Dane Laffrey) supported the vision that Arden crafted. The audience is even seated on the set to be a part of the story. They reflect the audience back at themselves like a group gathered around to hear a story around a campfire. The use of natural elements like sand and water bring an earthy feel to the production. Camille A. Brown‘s choreography in the show is almost worth the price of admission alone. The dance embraces the island roots and is so spectacular the audience seemed to cheer the loudest at the end of dance numbers. The movement of each performer helps to bring this Caribbean story to life.
This beautiful story that deals with some of life’s biggest questions, what is life without love and is love stronger than death, will move audiences to tears. This show has a limited run in Tempe before moving on to its next city, so be sure to take your chance to see Once on This Island.
Broadway Across America Arizona presents Once on The Island, Book and lyrics are by Lynn Ahrens, music by Stephen Flaherty.
ASU Gammage, Located on ASU Campus, 1200 S Forest Ave, Tempe, AZ 85281
March 3-, 2020 Tuesday-Saturday 7:30 PM Saturday 2:00 P.M., Sunday 1:00 PM, 6:30 PM
Recommended for All Ages
Tickets: $20-$99 with VIP tickets available
ASU Gammage Once on This Island Page
ASU Facebook Page
Once on This Island Facebook Event
0 Comments