By Tanner Tate
On Friday, some good friends and I took a trip up to Logan, Utah to Cache Theatre Company’s production of Once on This Island. I was vaguely familiar with the production, having several friends participate in various productions of it over the years, but I’d never been able to make it out to see any of the performances, so when the opportunity arose, I didn’t hesitate.
The story of Once On This Island is a modern fairy-tale told through song and dance; a fable of young, forbidden love and old rivalries, based off the book My Love, My Love by Rosa Guy. This particular production is set before the lush backdrop of Skylor Pond at Willow Park, and having the show take place outside added an extra layer of immersion. As the show opens, we are transported to a tropical island where a young girl is awakened by a storm. Though she is frightened, the villagers around her immediately begin to tell her a story to take her mind off the storm. It is the same story that we are told: the story of a young Ti Moune (Ella Kelstrom), a young girl who is whisked away by a massive flood that wipes out her village and leaves her an orphan. She is saved by the Gods, Papa Ge, (Michael Francis), Asaka (Amber Kacherian), Agwe (Maxx Teuscher), and Erzulie (Becka Frost), who take pity on her and set her in a tall tree to escape the flood. She is found by Mama Eralie (Rachel Newswander) and Tonton Julian (Michael Dressman), who take her in as one of their own. Later in her life, adult Ti Moune (Elisabeth Spencer) takes an interest in a young boy from the other side of the island, Daniel (Jack Bell) who has wrecked his car on the far side of the island. Daniel is of the Beauxhomme family, a bourgeois class of people who live separately from the peasants, and share a strong disdain for those of a lesser status; nevertheless, and despite warnings from the villagers, Ti Moune nurses Daniel back to a semblance of health. Daniel is close to death, and as the God of Death Papa Ge comes to take him, Ti Moune offers her own life for his. Papa Ge relents, but vows to return for his prize someday. Daniel soon returns to his own people, but not without having a profound connection to Ti Moune. After a time alone, Ti Moune decides to travel to the city to find Daniel. He is still recovering from his injuries, but is unable to heal. Ti Moune stays with him for several weeks, and the Beauxhomme become restless with a peasant girl in their midst. Daniel and Ti Moune fall in love, and the Beauxhomme choose to act. It is revealed that Daniel is betrothed to Andrea (Genesie Smith) and according to tradition, they must marry. Daniel is torn between his love for his sweetheart and allegiance to tradition as a Beauxhomme, and must choose the path he must follow as Papa Ge is always inching closer, preparing to reclaim Ti Moune’s life.
Spencer gives a very compelling performance as Ti Moune. It is strikingly apparent through her performance that she wants only to live a life worth remembering, and adventure to places that others have not traveled to. She exhibits excitement, joy, fear, and heartbreak in ways that touch the soul of an audience member. She also wields a powerful vocal range, and on more than one occasion I found myself in awe of her control and skill as a vocalist.
Bell delivers a tender performance as a soft-spoken Daniel. He speaks gently, and sings likewise. As he makes his final choice between Ti Moune and Andrea, his struggle is apparent, and I easily felt that conflict.
Francis, Kacherian, Teuscher, and Frost offer marvelous performances as the Gods. It was entertaining to watch their will intertwine with the lives of the people on the island, while still experiencing them with strikingly human characteristics. Due to a slightly faulty sound system, (a sacrifice made to have the wonderful outdoor setting), there were several moments when it was difficult to hear them. Regardless, there were an equal number of times when they rose above the obstacle and had remarkable moments on the stage.
Newswander and Dressman bring unconditional love to the stage, with their beautiful portrayal of Ti Moune’s foster parents. Their performances even brought a lump to my throat as they sent Ti Moune off on her great adventure.
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Jared Rounds, Melody Francis, and Annalee Roberts have crafted an exciting show as Director, Music Director, and Choreographer, respectively. With movement, song, and dance, these forces combine like a storm during the ensemble numbers, which proved to be particularly fun. Caroline Robbins, the Costume Designer, made the class division between the peasants and the Beauxhomme remarkably apparent, and never left the audience guessing what class was onstage. The Beauxhomme family even managed to seem a bit menacing as they entered the stage.
Cameron Cook and Trevor Teuscher helm the technical aspect of the production as Sound Designer and Technical Director. Transitions of music are seamless, and though there were a few hitches in the microphone connection, those who needed to be heard were heard more often than not.
Cache Theatre Company’s production of Once on This Island is a celebration of storytelling, and even more a celebration of life. Set outdoors, it is wonderful to feel a slight breeze as you witness the story of Ti Moune and her adventure in the world.
Cache Theatre Company presents Once On This Island, book and lyrics by Lynn Ahrens and music by Stephen Flaherty
Skylor Pond at Willow Park, 419 W 700 S Logan, UT 84321
June 15-16, 18, 22-23 7:30 PM
Tickets: Adults $15, Students $12
Cache Theatre Company Facebook Page
Once on This Island Facebook Event
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