Caribbean magic on the Bangkok stage
“Once on this Island”, a ninety-minute one-act musical which opened on Broadway to great acclaim in 1990 with 8 Tony Award nominations, is being performed at M Theatre on New Phetchaburi Road tomorrow and Saturday (March 2930) at 7.30pm.
The show, set on a Caribbean island with a catchy Caribbean influenced score, (lyrics by Lynn Ahrens and music by Stephen Flaherty), was staged again recently and earned a much deserved Tony Award in 2018 for “Best Revival of a Musical.”
Based on the 1985 novel “My Love, My Love” or, “The Peasant Girl” by Rosa Guy, “Once on this Island” is set in the French Antilles archipelago in the Caribbean. Crossing “Romeo and Juliet” crossed with “The Little Mermaid”, it’s centred on a peasant girl on a tropical island, who is guided by the island gods of earth, water, love and death. With their guidance and strength she uses the power of love to bring together people of different social classes and backgrounds.
“Once on this Island” is a joyful, life-affirming musical. The story begins as Ti Moune is orphaned by a storm. She is adopted by two loving peasants and she dreams of a life bigger than her own. She falls in love with a boy from the rich side of the Island and heals him after he suffers from a car crash. The power of love guides her to overcome death and to her final destiny.
“Once on this Island” promises great fun, great characters, touching moments, and a beautiful lineup of songs. “Mama Will Provide” – is a rousing number about Ti Moune’s journey with Asaka, mother earth, from her home near the sea to the big city where her love lives. “The Human Heart” is a soaring ballad about the power that binds us one to another. The show opens with the upbeat song “We Dance” and ends with the inspiring “We Tell the Story”.
Tickets cost Bt850 at www.BangkokCommunityTheatre.com and by email to [email protected].
