Apple Tree Theatre www.appletreetheatre.com 595 Elm Place Highland Park, IL. Runs through Dec. 26 For tickets call 847-432-4335
I don't know the last time I walked out of a new musical where people were humming, singing, or whistling their favorite tune. One expects it of the musicals written in the hey-days of the 1940s and 1950s, but nothing as recent as a 10-year old musical.
Apple Tree's production of Once On This Island is a joy to behold on every level. It is energetic, clever, heart-felt, fun, and moving. Based on a Trinidadian novel, it is a parable about love and forgiveness. Ti Moune, as a small girl, is brought to a Caribbean island by the gods during a mighty tempest. Found in a tree by Tonton Julian and Mama Euralie, they adopt and raise her as their own. They know she has a special purpose in life or the gods would not have spared her. On the other side of the island from the peasants live the Beauxhommes, an enclave of mulattos who are descended from a Caribbean slave and French settler. The Beauxhommes live luxuriously in their homes behind large gates, and they don't intermingle with the peasants because they have left that part of their lives behind them in previous generations. Daniel, a Beauxhomme, drives recklessly into the peasant's part of the island, and crashes his car. The peasants leave him to die as that is what they believe the gods intend. Ti Moune, however, saves his life by praying to the gods of Earth, Water, Love, and Death. What they decide is what must be. And what must be is the story told to us.
This ensemble encompasses some of the strongest voices I have heard in one place. Karla Latrice Beard, as Ti Moune, leads this wonderful company. She is diminutive in size but her gigantic voice is magnificent, and her acting is just as strong. Her Ti Moune is heart-opening and heart-breaking. The gods, played by Sean Blake, Nikkieli DeMone, Felicia P. Fields, Gabrielyn Watson, are wonderful and enrich the show with their humor and potent voices. Sean Blake is particularly strong as the ominous god of death and Felicia P. Fields is afire as the Mother of Earth. Anthony Pierre Christopher, as Daniel, and Angelique Gagnon as his intended Andrea, are understated compared to the peasants, which is a perfect choice for the Beauxhommes. Dushon Monique Brown, as Mama Euralie, has a glorious voice and is the perfect loving and concerned mother. Gregory Johnson, as Tonton Julian, is kind and loving, and his acting carries his voice, which is not as strong as the rest of this powerful cast. The rest of the ensemble is rounded out by Nathaniel Stampley, Jr. as Daniel's father, Tonya Watson as Ensemble, and Carolina Carattini and Jasmine Randle split the role of Little Ti Moune. Most of these actors also double as the small village of peasants.
Peter Amster has directed a clever and fast-paced story. With parasols with tinsel to symbolize rain, and a gate that doubles as a headboard, he has made the most of least, letting the story unfold simply and gracefully. Randy Duncan has choreographed rich and moving dances and Tom Murray leads a strong orchestra that brings the sound of the island alive. Timothy Morrison has created a set that moves from location to location with minimal gadgetry, including a pole, that with people, becomes a tree. Shannon McKinney has given us the most environment, with lights that take us from a godly storm to a beautiful Caribbean beach while costumes, rented from Northwestern University, are highly colorful for the peasants and monochrome for the Beauxhommes. The gods are designated by the clever head pieces designed to express their power. Joe Cerqua designed environmental sound.
I strongly recommend this production of Once On This Island to everyone of every age. It will leave you humming, singing, or whistling.
