BWW Reviews: ONCE ON THIS ISLAND Opens at FlynnSpace

FlynnArts Summer Youth Theater opened ONCE ON THIS ISLAND on Thursday, July 30 at the FlynnSpace at Burlington's Flynn Center for Performing Arts.

ONCE ON THIS ISLAND is a Caribbean interpretation of Hans Christian Andersen's THE LITTLE MERMAID and is based on a novel by Rosa Guy entitled MY LOVE, MY LOVE. The show touches on the great power of class and societal differences and, through the lens of a love story, explores the very real harms that those kind of imagined divides can cause a community.

The storyline of ONCE ON THIS ISLAND is much the same as in THE LITTLE MERMAID. However, in this case, the two different worlds inhabited by the characters are not the worlds of merpeople and humans, but of the French ruling class and the native underclass. A native orphan girl named Ti Moune, born into the lower class, is sent on a journey by the gods of the island that is designed to test the power of love over death and her own personal strength. When a boy from a wealthy French family is in a car wreck before her eyes, Ti Moune believes it is her destiny to save him, in the process trading her own soul for his life. When the boy returns to his family Ti Moune follows him there but encounters greater societal and godly forces than she ever could have imagined.

With music written by the TONY-winning Lynn Ahrens and Stephen Flaherty, ONCE ON THIS ISLAND had its Broadway debut in 1990 after premiering off-Broadway earlier that year. In 1995, the show won the Olivier Award for Best New Musical. Now, in the FlynnArts Summer Theater Program's 8th summer, it is being put on by youth ages 13-19, although it does feature three younger actors in cameo roles.

The most overwhelming and immediate impression of FlynnArts' ONCE ON THIS ISLAND is one of color. In a small performance space with audience members on three sides, the lush color and detail of the set and the costumes fills the theater to its brim. The audience is awash in waves of color and movement, and the effect is spectacular.

The actors, too, fill the space with their characters and voices. The quality of each cast members performance is very high, and it is incredibly easy to forget that these are young people. Quite simply, there is not an actor who takes the stage who does not belong in a highly talented cast like this one.

Leading the cast is a sparkling Victoria Fearn as Ti Moune, whose delicate demeanor and childlike innocence onstage belie a stunningly powerful voice. She lends real emotion to her role and manages to stand out even among her talented peers.

In the cosmic realm, each of the four god characters of the show lend gravitas and skillfully keep ONCE ON THIS ISLAND from getting out of hand under the steam of its joyful energy. Khadijah Bangoura exudes strength in persona and singing voice as the earth-goddess Asaka. Zoe Olson lends grace and self-assured elegance to the role of the love-goddess Erzulie. She and her counterpart, Tim Lewis as the death-god Papa Ge, have excellent chemistry as they orchestrate the plot together and in harmony. Lewis embodies the skulking Papa Ge with great authority and malice, and Max Chlumecky also does well as the water-god Agwe.

Back on earth, ONCE ON THIS ISLAND gets a strong dose of heart and a little humor as well at the hands of Emma Jarvis and Owen Leavey, who play Ti Moune's adopted parents Mama Euralie and TonTon Julian, respectively. They each steal the heart of the audience, and convincingly show both wisdom and pain at their daughter's growing up, adult emotions difficult for any young actor to portray.

A great supporting cast and ensemble rounds out the show, which also showcases tight choreography and professional presentation. ONCE ON THIS ISLAND is well-acted, well-produced, achievements that are all the more impressive for the fact that it is a youth production.

ONCE ON THIS ISLAND continues until August 2nd at the FlynnSpace in Burlington. Click HERE for tickets and additional information.

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