Last night I went to see PTC's production of Once on This Island and I absolutely loved it! On an island in the French Antilles, a young girl is frightened by a storm so a group of storytellers tell her about another girl named Ti Moune (Ava Lyn Smith) who survived a storm to try and calm her. Ti Moune (Tyla Collier as an adult) is a dark-skinned peasant girl who falls in love with Daniel Beauxhomme (Jordan Alexander), a light-skinned wealthy descendant of a French plantation owner, after she rescues him from a car accident. This relationship is frowned upon because the peasants and the grand hommes do not interact due to racial and class divisions. The four gods of the island, Asaka, Mother of the Earth (Galyana Castillo); Agwe, God of Water (Terance Reddick); Erzulie, Goddess of Love (Kristian Espiritu); and Papa Ge, Demon of Death (Paul Jordan Jansen); intercede on her behalf in both positive and negative ways until love triumphs to bring the different groups together and her story is told again and again through the generations. This fairy tale might not end the way you think it should but it has a beautiful message about love, loss, forgiveness, redemption, prejudice, and the power of storytelling. I loved all of the Caribbean-inspired music in this show but my favorite songs were "And the Gods Heard Her Prayer," "Rain," "Pray," "Forever Yours," "Mama Will Provide," and "Why We Tell the Story." Each number involves the clever use of items found around the stage (I especially enjoyed how the gods appeared and disappeared), dazzling choreography, and colorful and vibrant costumes. The entire cast, many of whom play multiple characters with just the addition of an accessory or prop, is wonderful. However, I was blown away by Collier (who has a beautiful voice and is an exceptional dancer) because she embodies so many emotions in her portrayal of a woman who sacrifices herself for love. This is a beautiful and powerful production that should not be missed (go here for tickets).
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