The Company of the North American Tour of ONCE ON THIS ISLAND. Photo by Joan Marcus. 2019
By: Harrison Lorenzen
The North American tour of Once On This Island drifted into Houston this week, as part of the Theater Under the Stars’ 2019-2020 season. The 2018 Tony-Award Winner for Best Revival, this show brings rushes of emotions throughout, such as both joy and sorrow, love and loss. Providing something for everyone, wrapped up as beautifully performed Caribbean-style storytelling, Once On This Island is a must-see while it is in Houston through March 1st.
Following a disaster on an island in the French Antilles, the villagers gather to tell an old island tale to a frightened young girl. There was once a village girl named Ti Moune who had fallen in love with a wealthy boy. The gods, except maybe Papa Ge, the god of death, assisted in her attempts to get him to fall in love with her. The show presents the power of love and determination, no matter how high the odds are stacked against Ti Moune. While the story itself has these messages written in it, the cast does an amazing job of expressing it.
There was not a weak link in the cast of Once On This Island. Courtnee Carter, starring as Ti Moune, steals the show with her amazing ballads and crystal-clear belted notes. The god of love, Erzulie, is played by the multi-talented Cassondra James, who is just as talented on the flute throughout as well. From the large group dances to the individual ballads, the cast is stunning. However, the one star that shines the brightest is the little girl, played by Mimi Crossland and Mariama Diop on alternating nights. Her playfulness, both before the show when she’s digging in the sand on-stage to her enjoying being part of the storytelling, is contagious and she stole the hearts of the audience members.
The set of Once On This Island is unique in that the touring production was adapted from its Broadway in-the-round staging. To keep the same feeling of an in-the-round arrangement, there are audience seats on the sides and back of the stage, so for a unique view ask about these seats at the box office. Since the village is near the beach, the designers opted to use sand as the entire floor of the stage, along with a pool of water for the entrances of Agwe, the god of water. The lighting was elaborate, with both a mystical feeling when the gods were around, but also scenes of stark realism, such as during the thunderstorm.
Overall, the talent and production quality of Once On This Island are incredible. The show is performed daily except for Mondays through March 1st. For tickets and more information visit TUTS.com. For more Broadway show updates, tune into my KTRU specialty show “Showstoppers” weekly on Mondays from 11 a.m. to noon on air and online at ktru.org.