Love’s a Beach

Pennington Players unfolds ‘Once On This Island.’

By: Stuart Duncan
   Once On This Island is a colorful musical based on a novel by Rosa Guy (titled My Love, My Love), a twist on The Little Mermaid. It opened on Broadway in mid-October of 1990, was nominated for eight Tony Awards and since then has become a favorite of community theaters throughout the United States. It has 13 characters, divided nicely between male and female, and plenty of character bits, using a form of storybook theater.
   Surprisingly, it is more difficult to perform than it may seem, and therefore is rarely done well. But The Pennington Players, ensconced in the group’s summer home at Kelsey Theatre on the campus of Mercer County Community College, has a terrific production for you. The group has left the major decisions to director Frank Ferrara, and along with Jillian Potash, his choreographer, and Shannon Ferrara, his musical director, the trio has found some wonderful singers who can also move well and act. Director Ferrara has cut the intermission so that the show is nicely focused and runs about 85 minutes. It is beautifully costumed with lighting by Judi Parrish on a set designed by Alan Naidoff, and the minutes fly by.
   The story is about the gods of a French Antilles island who save the life of one small girl, adopted by an island couple and named Ti Moune. As she grows into a young beauty she rescues a young man from a serious car wreck, takes him home and personally cares for him for a fortnight, thereby saving his life. The boy is from "the other side of the island" — the French and aristocratic side where apparently everything is "gated" by armed guards.
   Nevertheless Ti Moune is smitten and decides to leave home and try to care for her young man who has been taken back to his own lodgings. She even makes a bargain with the Island God of Death to sacrifice her own life for his. The tale is told in 21 songs — a few of the ballad type and most ensemble pieces — with the individual singers taking different characters as the story unfolds. It is by no means an easy show to stage, but here it is done beautifully.
   And what a superior company: Caitlin Tierney plays the older Ti Moune, after young Sally Graham has begun the role. Both are breathtaking. Edgard Garcia and Samille Ganges play Ti Moune’s adoptive parents, and other roles as the show goes along. Drew Cyburt plays the boy, Daniel. Kyrus, Adrienne Bogarde, Shannon Shackleford and William Kamps play the gods of Water, Earth, Love and Death. It is the last two who will fight over the lives of the young lovers.
   You will undoubtedly be reminded of Disney’s adaptation of The Little Mermaid. Is that a bad thing?
Once on This Island continues at Kelsey Theatre on the Campus of Mercer County Community College, 1200 Old Trenton Road, through Aug. 26. Performances: Fri.-Sat. 8 p.m., Sat. 2 p.m. Tickets cost $16, $12 seniors, $10 students/children; (609) 570-3333; www.kelseytheatre.net