★★★★☆

This was a first for me as I’ve not been brave enough to risk this open air theatre due to concerns over the notorious temperamental British weather! But with a lovely hot dry day promised we took advantage of last minute availability and headed off to Regent’s Park!

Once on this Island is written by Lynn Ahrens and Stephen Flaherty (who also write Seussical and Ragtime) this is billed as a Caribbean version of Hans Christian Anderson’s The Little Mermaid. This certainly intrigued me.

The show opens on an island in the French Antilles where locals sell cheap souvenirs to tourists until they are broken up by armed guards. A storm begins and two small girls and frightened. In attempt to cheer them up the villagers gather to tell them the story of Ti Mourne (played by Gabrielle Brooks), a peasant girl who fell in love with a young French man, Daniel Beauxhoomme (played by Stephenson Arden-Sodje) who is far above her station. He is a ‘grand homme’, a descendant of the original French plantation owners on the island.

The cast of Once on this Island

Life for the islanders is governed by their four gods – Asaka: Mother of the Earth (played by Anelisa Lamola), Agwe: god of Water (played by Ashley Samuels), Erzulie: goddess of Love (played by Emilie Louise Israel), and Papa Ge: demon of Death (played by Lejaun Sheppard) – and this is very much a story set against the backdrop of Haitian Vodou.

Once on this Island is directed by Ola Ince and she make very effective use of the natural surroundings plus the simple stage. The set (designed by Georgia Lowe) consists of a two level stage with a sunken section (which is used very effectively in act two). Down each side of the stage are tall lighting rig structures which the cast climb as if they are trees, and rotate with mirrors on them. I really liked the staging of this show. The direction thrusts both the beauty of the island, the power of nature, and the cruelty of humans right in front of us and forces us to confront some difficult realities. The actors themselves create the environment for us, with the set design allowing them to do that rather than forcing them to work around it.

Gabrielle Brooks as Ti Moune is the stand out star of this production. She has a powerhouse voice and her performance of ‘Waiting for Life’ (the character’s ‘I want’ song) is wonderful. She moves about the stage with fluidity, embodying the nature of the storm from which she was rescued.

Gabrielle Brooks as Ti Moune

But the show is not just about her. The four Haitian gods give the story its mythical framework. One of the key moments is a bargin made between Ti and Papa Ge which also sees flames surrounding the characters on stage. They also allow for the imagination of costume designer Melissa Simon-Hartman to run wild and the results are outstanding.

Stephenson Ardern-Sodje as Daniel gives us just the right light and shade in his portrayal as Ti’s love interest. He is tender with her when required, but also shows his true nature when he destroys Ti’s naivety.

Gabrielle Brooks as Ti Moune and Stephenson Ardern-Sodje as Daniel

The show, although performed in one act, does feel like a two act show. For me the second half was where it really seemed to get going.

The rest of the cast are also incredible with voices that could raise the roof of any theatre – although of course this doesn’t have one! As the stage floods at the end of the show and the finale ‘Why we tell the Story’ resounds around the wooded space, this feels like a very special production.

The rest of the cast includes: Bernadette Bangura, Courtney-Mae Briggs, Hanna Dimtsu, Jonathan Grant, Chris Jarman, Cassandra Lee, Natasha Magic, Newtion Matthews, Antoine Murray, Nay-Nay, and Marco Titus. The girls are played by three pairs, who remain onstage almost throughout: Janai Bartlett, Lexi Kowlessar, Nesisa Mhindu, Kirsten Muzvuru, Nielle Springer, and Olivia St Louis.

Once on This Island plays at Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre until 10 June 2023

Photos © Marc Brenner