‘Once’ again

Review by Vives Anunciacion

Once on this Island
Musical
Directed by Bart Guingona
Written by Stephen Flaherty and Lynn Ahrens
Featuring Raki Vega, May Bayot, Jett Pangan, Menchu Lauchenco-Yulo
Choreography by Denisa Reyes
Lighting by John Batalla
Musical Direction by Rony Fortich
Actors’ Actors Inc. / Silang
Onstage at the CP Romulo Auditorium, RCBC Towers
Feb 3, 4 and 5 at 8pm

The first time it was magical; the second was sheer joy. Actors’ Actors Inc. hits the high notes again in the third staging of the wildly successful musical Once on this Island. This time it’s pure fun.

Ti Moune (Raki Vega) is a peasant orphan in the care of adoptive parents Tonton Julian (Bodjie Pascua) and Mama Euralie (May Bayot). Her simple life is turned upside down one day when she discovers young Beauxhomme aristocrat Daniel (Gian Magdangal) in a car crash.

The gods of Earth, Water, Love and Death lay a wager on whether Love or Death would determine Ti Moune’s life. Believing the island’s gods have answered her request for a change in destiny, Ti Moune saves the injured Daniel and nurtures him back to his health, instantly falling for the dashing young man. Obsessed with her new love, she commits her soul to the god of death Papa Ge (Jett Pangan) if only to save Daniel’s life.

At the Beauxhomme Hotel where Daniel is revived, Ti Moune and Daniel develop real feelings for each other. But the fairy tale ends when Ti Moune discovers that Daniel is betrothed to fellow aristocrat Andrea (Cathy Azanza). On Daniel and Andrea’s wedding day Ti Moune attempts to kill Daniel to save her own soul from Papa Ge. But the goddess Erzulie (Menchu Lauchengco-Yulo) reminds Ti Moune of her love for Daniel, and she spares Daniel’s life. Ti Moune is thrown out of the hotel, where she pines for Daniel to her death.

The story of a poor peasant girl who saves the life of an aristocratic boy in the name of love, Once on this Island’s third staging is a triumph of talent and passion – the ensemble is so energetic on stage they must be having the time of their lives. And it’s only a small show.

It’s amazing how the stage is utilized to the maximum, considering the number of performers and the size of the stage. The four island gods are scene-stealers without meaning to – among them are the most experienced and powerful performers onstage. Menchu Lauchengco-Yulo is afire in dance and in song as Erzulie. Jett Pangan and Bituin Escalante’s powerful voices as Papa Ge and Asaka are practically larger than life. Michael Williams is playful as Agwe, and May Bayot is devastating as Ti Moune’s mother, Mama Euralie, particularly when she sings in Pray and in Ti Moune.

But there seems to be a slight imbalance with the young lovers’ cast. While Raki Vega confidently fills the auditorium with her sweet and powerful voice as Ti Moune, Gian Magdangal surprisingly appears unsure and nervous as Daniel in the song Some Girls. Considering his stellar performance as Willard in the recent staging of Footloose, it’s a wonder where the excitement went. Nevertheless the performance is still pulled off satisfactorily.

Choreography however is either confusing or inconsistent. For the stage’s size it was effective to make the cast play different roles, but movement in the dances is understandably limited and therefore comparatively less imaginative. Sometimes the stances are too Javanese or Indian for the Caribbean setting. Music is infectious as Madonna’s, especially in And the Gods Heard Her Prayer, and Mama Will Provide.

The story of Once on this Island is simple enough for kids, it’s like Little Mermaid on shore. The performances are generally superb – even from minor roles featuring Michael De Mesa and Gala Sanchez. The show’s popularity and feel-good theme practically makes it critic-proof. Once on this Island is a happy, colorful tale anyone can gladly listen to over and over again.