Once On This Island…
If the freezing temps have you daydreaming about balmier temps and sunnier skies, then perhaps an island jaunt is just the ticket. Lucky you! Lynn Ahrens & Stephen Flaherty’s Once On This Island is in town for a short trip, and the Broadway sensation- it won the 2018 Tony for Best Revival- envelops the audience in the kind of Caribbean vibes and infectious beats that’ll have you dancing in your seat.
photo credit: Joan Marcus
Based on Trinidad-born American writer Rosa Guy’s 1985 novel My Love, My Love, Michael Arden’s 90-minute staging centers around villagers weaving a magical tale for a tiny girl afraid of an imminent storm. They tell her of Ti Moune, an orphaned girl destined for greatness by the hands of the gods, the path she embarks on to be with the boy of her dreams, and the class wars (and prejudices) on an island divided by the Haves (lighter skinned folks descended from French colonizers), and the Have Nots (darker skinned natives).
Part mythology….
…Part story-within-a-story, and part coming of age epic, this is mostly a show about love; love of one’s home, love of one’s people, love of life and, of course, love of one’s true, intended love. (Even if he’s not aware of it for the majority of the story, sigh.)
The latter is a relatively problematic through-line; how often do we hear the tale of the brave, selfless girl who gives (and gives and gives) all of herself for her One True Love, while the boy in question generally gets to…exist? While a hero who truly deserves a heroine who bleeds herself dry for him would be a refreshing change of pace, it’s certainly not the fault of the charming Tyler Hardwick, who plays privileged Daniel, the heir apparent to a hotel fortune- and the Beauxhomme curse. The gods who help Ti Moune along the way swirl the villagers (and audience) up in their mostly benevolent string-pulling. Papa Ge (Tamyra Gray), the spirit of death/chaos; Agwe (Jamaul Bakare), the god of water; Asaka (Kyle Ramar Freeman), the mother of the earth; and Erzulie (Cassondra James), the goddess of love, have powerhouse moments and songs that are among the strongest in the show. But make no mistake, this is Courtnee Carter’s show as the innocent, eager, and truly lovely Ti Moune. A fantastic dancer, her songs full of yearning make the audience want a better world for Ti Moune- and the Ti Mounes each of us know. (Or once were?)
That Said.
It’s impossible to enjoy this show without also being highly attuned to the very real tragedies befalling storm-struck islands again and again, and also admiring the faith and rituals that keep the residents going in the face of such hardships. So perhaps the tale of one small, seemingly helpless person can enact very real change after all; in love, in life, and with long-reaching legacies.
Once on this island, sure, but probably again and in different ways and perhaps eventually with the outcomes we pray for.
Doesn’t that just warm the soul?
If you go:
Runs through February 2nd, 2020 at the Cadillac Palace Theatre, 151 W. Randolph, Chicago broadwayinchicago.com
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