Let it be said that once is not enough, when embracing and experiencing “Once on This Island,” now at the Manoa Valley Theatre. There’s so much to adore, appreciate and applaud.
The production is a treasure — and a pleasure — to watch.
I last saw this soulful, sensational show in 2018, at Broadway’s Circle in the Square in New York. Lea Salonga was one of the goddesses in the show; sand covered the in-the-round stage floor; a realistic pool of water was part of the scene; a diapered goat (yes, live!) provided realism and whimsy.
The MVT production boasts the sandy floor and a tiny pool of water sits in one corner. Otherwise, this “Once on This Island” is spartan, yet boasting an incredible ensemble of singers and dancers, and that’s the beauty of this show. Its makers transform the spirit and shape the substance of the storytelling process.
“Once on This Island” — with book and lyrics by Lynn Ahrens and music by Stephen Flaherty — is set on a rustic Caribbean island, and its troupers bring the words and music to life, playing rich and poor, gods and peasants, and – like in any traditional story – projects a beginning, a middle, and an end.
Ahnya Chang, visionary director and choreographer, turns in her career-best work, molding and shaping this formidable non-stop engine, challenging her cast to fuel vocals and dances with typhoon-strength strokes, all the while demonstrating her power of synergy. She’s on a roll, truly, following this past summer’s I’m a Bright Kid Foundation’s “Newsies” at Paliku Theatre, where her choreography was stupendous.
As audience members stroll in to find their seats, the ensemble folks are already at work, portraying resident islanders in a prelude, milling around as survivors of a hurricane.
“Once on This Island” prosseses the traits of a morality play, embracing universal themes like hope and pain, struggles and successes, gladness and sadness, highs and lows, and conflicts and peace.
To survive, togetherness matters; rights and wrongs abound.
Four gods add a mythical mode; and like in “Romeo and Juliet,” star-crossed lovers from different sides of the tracks fall in love.
The four compelling gods propel the action, trigger bursts of emotions, and guide the emotional tempo of the citizenry: Asaka, the mother of the Earth, played by Lelea‘e “Buffy” Kahalepuna-Wong; Agwé, the god of water, portrayed by Jarren Amian; Erzulie, enacted by Jorin Young, the goddess of love; and Papa Ge, performed by Kimo Kaona, the demon of death.
Each actor is a thorough delight, approaching godliness with mythic and marvelous tonal qualities, putting their individual vocal imprint into their earthy folk songs that define their spirited strengths.
The love story entails the protagonist Ti Moune (Alexis Burgarin, a beautiful go-getter), an orphan raised by peasant parents (Mama Euralie, portrayed by La Masae Fa‘amausili, and Tonton Julian, played by Keanu Roe), after the powerful gods save her life in the storm.
Ti Moune is somewhat of a manipulator with a heroic streak, defying her parents and rescuing the wealthy Daniel Beauhomme (Darian Aquino, her attractive suitor) from death, whose hands and heart she seeks by the tale’s end.
Other secondary roles include Nicole Villejo as Daniel’s wealthy wife Andrea Deveraux and Jared Duldulao as Armand Beauxhomme, Daniel’s rigid dad. And Sadie Hokama-Satele is the featured Little Girl.
The incredible ensemble should take individual bows, because they sing their hearts out and dance tirelessly, with their spectrum of motion and commotion. They form the solid and sustaining mid-section of the storytelling, so hurrahs to Pono Cummings, Landon Ballesteros, Marnita Nychelle Billups, Caitlin Bright, Drew Bright, Journey Glasbow, Alexandra Holloway and Presley A. Wheeler.
Kudos, too, to the tech crew: Chris Gouveia and Janine Myers, lighting; Jax Pitts, props; Kimmerie H.O. Jones, costumes; Willie Sabel, set; Sarah Velasco and Timothy Manamtam, sound; Lisa Ponce de Leon, hair and makeup; Eric Steinwandt-Gudoy, stage management; and Jenny Shiroma, music.
The show has been extended till Dec. 15, so if you can secure tickets, go. You’ll applaud and cheer the fine work.
And that’s Show Biz…
‘Once on This Island’
What: A musical by Lynn Ahrens (book and lyrics) and Stephen Flaherty (music), based on Rosa Guy’s novel, “My Love, My Love”
Where: Manoa Valley Theatre
When: At 7:30 p.m. Thursdays through Saturdays, and 3 p.m. Sundays (plus a 3 p.m. matinee on Saturday Nov. 23), through Dec. 15.
Tickets: $25 through $48, available at the box office, at (808) 988-6131, www.manoavalleytheatre.com and https://ci.ovationtix.com/35307/production/1195089 …