Inspiring, bittersweet ‘Once on This Island’
For some reason, this Harry Belafonte song of the 1960s came to mind: “This is my island in the sun, where my people have toiled since time began. I may sail on many seas, her shores will always be home to me. Oh island in the sun …” Or perhaps this Caribbean song will be more apt: “O Haiti, cherie, Haiti is my beloved land.”
The island we have in mind has been colonized by the French, who can be as harsh as any European power of the past. The islanders have an African heritage, are ruled by “pompous gods” who can gamble with the people’s lives, with some practicing—gasp—voodoo. And there is the Demon of Death, who is feared by the people because he represents the unknown.
This then is the well-loved, captivating Broadway musical by Lynn Ahrens and Stephen Flaherty, “Once on This Island,” with its Calypso beat and story of love in peril. As a partisan described it, “This play is about love, resilience and the power of storytelling. Disparate lives intersect; lines between love and loss, hope and despair, are blurred.”
Magic is in the air.
This is the story of Ti Moune, a poor peasant girl of the island who rescues a rich kid from another part of the island, Daniel Beauxhomme (“handsome man”), actually a French mestizo, and falls madly in love with him.
Deadly wager
When Daniel returns to his people, the besotted Ti Moune pursues him, but she is treated coldly and discriminated against by the islanders on the wealthier side of the isle because she is a woman “of color” and poor.
The villainous gods come into the picture and make a wager—which is more important, love or death? The lives of the lovers hang in the balance. There is Papa Ge, the sly Demon of Death, who, as one report put it, “must be able to create a strong character and have an evil laugh.”
“Once on This Island” will be presented by 9 Works Theatrical on Sept. 6 to Sept. 29 at the RCBC Plaza in Makati City, with a cast of newbies as well as veteran performers. Ti Moune will be played by Thea Astley (GMA Sparkle artist), with Angela Ken (Star Magic) as alternate. Sam Concepcion is Daniel Beauxhomme, and Jef Flores alternates. Lorenz Martinez plays Papa Ge.
Others in the cast area Shanaia Gomez, Garrett Bolden (GMA Sparkle), Jordan Andres, Sheila Valderrama-Martinez, Noel Rayos and Raul Montesa, plus a slew of young actors-singers-dancers (Triple Threats) who portray the islanders. Jonjon Martin is the Storyteller, and Robbie Guevara directs.
This was announced at a press conference at the Mirror Theater Studio in Makati City, with the cast performing a lively production number and then engaging in a Q&A with the media present. They were asked about lessons learned and insights gained during rehearsals (“discipline,” “other cultures”) and, when asked about the theme of the musical, gave various definitions of love, with Montesa saying “the theme is love, just love.”
Key issues
“You can expect a new take on the material that is still faithful to the original,” said director Guevara in an interview. “We will take into consideration the sense and sensibilities of the Zillenials—our new and targeted audience—and try to identify what in the material they can relate to.”
Any culture can relate to this musical play, Guevara opined: “Especially us, who have been colonized and where discrimination is still prevalent. Those are key issues in the musical and we intend to highlight them.”
He added, “It’s a classic. It needs to be retold time and again. It educates the new audience as well as the younger performers on how Broadway musicals used to be and ought to be.”
And the director summed it up: “The message is very universal.” And the musical play is inspiring, albeit bittersweet.
