BWW Reviews: ONCE ON THIS ISLAND Enchants Milwaukee with Grande Dreams, Melodies and Storytelling

Discover an Island--an island overflowing with dreams for an enchanting oasis this February at the Skylight Music Theatre. In a reprise of a Skylight 1998 production, the musical paring the award-winning Lynn Aherns and Stephen Flaherty, Once on This Island returns Milwaukee to the French Antilles seen on the Cabot Stage. A place where brilliant color, dancing and music captivates the audience through an entire, no intermission evening.

Former Skylight Artistic Director Bill Theisen also returns to the theater in the role of Production Director and Co-Choreographer for this vibrant cast in an adaptation of Rosa Guy's novel, "My Love, My Love." A story where the Island's peasant storytellers begin their tale about Ti Moune, an orphan girl thrown to the winds in a violent storm and tossed high in the branches of a tree. Mama Euralie and Tonton Julian help her down, choosing to raise the child even though meals are scarce. When she becomes a young woman, Ti Moune saves the life of a "grande homme" named Daniel, and ultimately learns the division between hearts and homes on the island, between the peasants and the rich, might be impossible to cross.

Sheri Williams Parnell and Lee Palmer, also a Co-Choreograper, create sterling performances playing Mama Euralie and Tonton Julian when raising the orphan Ti Moune. The debuting Kanova Johnson, floats on stage with innocent charm revealing her courageous love for the "grand homme" Daniel, the debonair Sean Anthony Jackson. The audience immediately believes in Ti Moune's unfailing love for Daniel, and her perilous journey to save him at any cost to her life, and so they live this dream with her. An equally accomplished young performer, who plays the young Ti Moune and the child hearing the tale Makayla Davis, represents the youth who will carry on the island's stories.

In the tradition of a true myth, enter the Gods who rule this island named Agwe, Asaka, Erzulie and Papa Ge, or the Demon of Death. Here the Gods listen to the prayers of Ti Moune, and toy with peasants and grande hommes alike, their fortunes in the God's hands-- Gods who trade lives for lives. Each God has their enthralling production solo, grand voices in a grand theater: Shawn Holmes, Raven Dockery, Cynthia Cobb and Bill Jackson respectively radiate their power through Costume Designer Loyce Arthur's inventive garments on Ken Goldstein's innovative set design that allows the audience to envision this lush island in their minds. Using a small five person orchestra, Music Director Shari Rhoads also gives grande accompaniment to the performers.

The uplifting musical awakens the dreams in anyone's hearts, for true love to be made right, for cultural divides to be crossed, and a tiny world on an island united despite their violent past. The story of Ti Moune embodies the incredible power of storytelling through dance and music, piercing the audience with realities of life through the Caribbean culture, which could represent city neighborhoods anywhere in America. How each culture dreams the same dreams-to be loved, respected and free from tyranny and live in peace.

In the Skylight's entrancing coming of age story, Ti Moune, the Gods, and the island peasants sing her story in jubilant praise to the power of 'forgive out of what we live." While Ti Moune's love unexpectedly remains steadfast in this story with an unexpected twist to the ending, perhaps the audiences lives will become the stories that they also live to forgive. A winter delight for any and every age that refreshes the soul with sacrificial love, experience the joy in Once on This Island. Dare to dream these grande dreams as Ti Moune does. Dreams that can become reality when a person perseveres in courage and love. A tale certainly in need of retelling to future generations.

Skylight Music Theatre presents Once on This Island at the Cabot Theatre in the Broadway Theatre Center through February 22. For performances or tickets 414.291.7800 or www.skylightmusictheatre.org.

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