Once On This Island, the first production of Birmingham Village Players (BVP) 104th season, is the story of a peasant girl who falls in love with a wealthy boy and makes a deal with the gods to save his life. The musical is loosely based on the Hans Christian Anderson fable “The Little Mermaid” and uses the culture, folklore, music, myth and the storytelling traditions of the Caribbean to tell the tale.
At the center of the story are the scene-stealing Gods: Asaka, Mother of the Earth, played by Melanie Jones of West Bloomfield; Agwe, God of Water, played by Kodie Chandler of Southfield; Papa Ge, Sly Demon of Death, played by Odera Office from Detroit and Daelin Whitfield from Dearborn Heights; and Erzulie, Beautiful Goddess of Love, brought to life by Stacey Barrett of Detroit.
But are they stronger than the power of love? Find out when the musical Once On This Island runs from Sept. 18-Oct. 4 at Birmingham Village Players. Individual tickets cost $30. Flex Package tickets for all shows are available by contacting the box office at 248-644-2075 or visiting the ticket page on the website, www.birminghamvillageplayers.com.
Photo Credit: Paul Manoian Photography