Theater Review: "Once on this Island" at Summer Theatre of New Canaan

On my first visit to the Summer Theatre of New Canaan, I enjoyed their production of the musical “Once on this Island,” with book and lyrics by Lynn Arhrens and music by Stephen Flaherty. The Summer Theatre production was directed by George Faison and runs through the end of July.

The musical is based upon the novel “My Love My Love” by Rosa Guy. This show is a captivating legend of romance between a peasant girl and a rich city boy whom she saves from death. The calypso-flavored musical opens on a Caribbean island where villagers discover an orphan Ti Moune, destined to love too much for the human heart to bear.

Faison danced with Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater in the late sixties and was the first African-American choreographer to win a Tony Award for his choreography in “The Wiz.” Since the early eighties, his professional career focus has changed to writing, directing and choreographing both dramatic and musical theater pieces.

Summer Theatre of New Canaan’s Artistic Director Melody Meitrott Libonati received the CT Critics Circle nomination for Best Director for “West Side Story,” “Joseph” and “The Music Man.” She describes “Once on this Island” as the story of the power of love as we continue to face the struggle of radial justice in “two separate worlds, never meant to meet, but if the gods move our feet, we dance.”

“Life if why. Pain is why. Love is why, Grief is why, Hope is why, Faith is why…..we tell the stories!”

While there is no young Ti Moune, there is a boat that travels across the front of the stage. My favorite musical numbers included the nicely staged “Rain” and “Mama Will Provide.” There is plenty of joy in the dancing performed on this outdoor stage.

Leading the cast as Ti Moune is Equity actress Zurin Villanueva, a graduate of Howard University originally from Brooklyn, New York. This young actress embodies the peasant girl will all of the necessary heart. Equity member Xavier McKinnon plays the role of her beloved Daniel.

The four gods are convincingly portrayed in striking costumes.

Ramsey Pack is a mix of cool and fearsome in the role of Papa Ge, the god of death.
Tiffany Renee Thompson, an Equity performer, is lovely in the role of Erzulie, the goddess of love. Equity actress Brandi Chavonne Massey, who played Elphaba in “Wicked” on Broadway, plays Asaka, the goddess of the Earth. Shafiq Hicks, who just finished playing Tom Collins in the “Rent” 25th Anniversary Farewell Tour, portrays the god of water, Agwe.

Equity members Zoie Morris and C Mingo Long portray Ti Moune’s parents, Mama Euralie and Tonton Julian. Equity actress Joy Del Valle portrays the young woman betrothed to Daniel. She appeared in the international tour of “West Side Story,” “Fiddler on the Roof” and “Annie Get Your Gun” at Goodspeed, as well as in “A Christmas Carol” at Hartford Stage.

Derrick Alton, the original Adam Clayton Powell, Jr. in George Faison's "If this Hat could Talk" at the Apollo Theatre and in the national tour, plays Armand Beauxhomme. .

The busy ensemble includes Aiyana Smash, Kolten Bell, D. Jerome, Lance-Patrick Strickland, Chelsea-Ann Jones, and Tristan Hill, most of whom trained as understudies.

The costume design by Arthur Oliver is made up of authentic peasant clothing, classic ensembles for the rich and magical costumes for the four gods, with the colorful dress of Asaka my favorite. The scenic design by William P. Mensching, Jr. fit the space well, with a small staircase at the back to suggest the magical tree. Mensching, who works as a technical designer/project manager at ShowMotion in Milford, lives in Fairfield. Lighting design by Dalia Sevilla worked surprisingly well for the outdoor venue.

The music direction by Damien Sneed, a multi-genre recording artist and instrumentalist, was admirable. Glenn Alexander II conducted the band while playing second keys while Ari Goldbloom-Helzner, assistant music director, covered first keys. Four other musicians round out the pit.

Shout outs to summer interns Iziah Barnes (in Technical Theatre,) and Rebecca Donagy (in Admin/Stage Management and Assistant Stage Manager for the show) who are both students at Western Connecticut State University.

The Summer Theatre production runs for 90 minutes and the Broadway Tony-Winning Revival seemed to be trimmed a bit so that it could be presented without an intermission. Bring your own lawn chairs or book VIP seating and they’ll provide one. There is open seating in all sections.

GPS Info: Performances are presented in the lovely Waveny Park, 677 South Avenue in New Canaan CT 06840. There is free parking behind the tent.

Nancy Sasso Janis has been writing theatre reviews since 2012 as a way to support local theatre venues. She posts reviews of well over 100 productions each year. In 2016, she became a member of the Connecticut Critics Circle. She continues to contribute theatre news, previews, and audition notices to local Patch sites. Reviews of all levels of theatrical productions are posted on Naugatuck Patch and the Patch sites closest to the venue. She recently became a contributor to the Waterbury Republican-American newspaper. Her weekly column and theatre reviews appear in the Thursday Weekend section of the paper.

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