About the Show
Once on This Island…. Based on the novel My Love, My Love by Rosa Guy, the show is a twist on the traditional ” Little Mermaid” tale, and tells the story of Ti Moune, a poor peasant girl who falls in love with Daniel, an upper class boy whose life she saves after a car crash. Central to the story are four gods that the peasants believe rule their lives. The gods of Love (Erzulie), Earth (Asaka), Water (Agwe), and Death (Papa Ge) cause the lives of the young lovers to intersect, and send Ti Moune on the fateful journey that tests the strength of her love.
Set in the French Antilles, Once On This Island boasts a score that is immediately and continually reflective of this locale. There are rousing, upbeat numbers like ” Mama Will Provide,” and ” Some Say,” as well as poignant ballads like ” The Human Heart” and ” Forever Yours” . While some of the numbers stand on their own, there can be no mistaking a song from ” Once on This Island” with a song from any other show, because Ahrens and Flaherty never betray the story’s Caribbean roots.
Once on This Island originated at Playwrights Horizons on April 6, 1990. It opened at the Booth Theater on Broadway on October 18, 1990 and played for 469 performances. The show also received eight Tony Award Nominations, including Best Musical, Best Score and Best Book.
For more information on the writers, check out www.ahrensandflaherty.com
Cast
Ti Moune – Rebecca Kimpton
Young Ti Moune – Philippa Dracakis
Mama Euralie – Fenella Jolly
Tonton Julian – Adam Wilson
Papa Ge (God of Death) – Michael Trinidad
Agwe (God of Water) – John Hogan
Asaka (Mother of the Earth) – Kath Sharpham
Erzulie (Goddess of Love) – Trinity White
Daniel – Luke Hogan
Andrea – Rosie Pocknall
Armand – Martin Paterson
Ensemble – Melina Broadhouse, Joseph Bryan, Peter Byron, Catherine Campbell, Heather Clarke, Andrew Denniston, Frank Evans, Stephen Graf, Trinity Illidge, Thomas Leslie, Brian Madden, Liz McCann, Trama McGee, Fiona Newbert, Jenny Paterson, Caroline Reddel, Megan Reddel, Leah Robinson, Phil Scott.
Production Team
DIRECTOR: Penny Wilson
PRODUCTION MANAGER: Karen McAlpine
Assistant Production Manager: Yvonne Musgrave
MUSICAL DIRECTOR: Andrew McAlpine
Assistant Musical Director: Matthew Campbell
ACCOMPANIST and rehearsal pianist: Matthew Campbell
CHOREOGRAPHER: Clare Burgess
STAGE MANAGER: Ian Wesley
Assistant Stage Manager: Niki Barton
Stage Crew: Andrew McVey, Peter Roach, Alissa
DECOR MANAGER: Joanne Ryke
Decor Assistants: Trevor Eadie, Kylie Musgrave
LIGHTING Assistant: Andrew McVey
WARDROBE: Margaret Stuart
Assistant: Shirley Sharpham
MAKE-UP / HAIR STYLES / MILLINERY: Karen McAlpine, Yvonne Musgrave
FRONT OF HOUSE House Managers:
Publicity: Andrew McAlpine, Adam Wilson
Booking Agent: Paul Taylor
Mail Bookings: Helen Wilson
Usher Co-ordinator: Liz McCann