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www.exit7players.org
EXIT 7 YOUTH PLAYERS
Show dates August 6, 7, 13, 14, 20, & 21 at 7:30 PM.
Wednesday, August 11 at 1 PM; and Sunday, August 15 at 3 PM.
Reviewed by Donna Bailey-Thompson
Wikipedia does not clear up any confusion about the background of the musical, Once On This Island, when it states : “The novel, My Love, My Love: Or The Peasant Girl by Rosa Guy is based on the Hans Christian Andersen tale [The Little Mermaid], and inspired the musical Once on This Island, set in the French Antilles.” The Island is Haiti which in the musical incorporates some Haitians’ belief in multiple gods and the more often than not unsurmountable differences between those who have and those who have not. Also woven into the story line are aspects of Cinderella, Romeo and Juliet, and other variations of romance, both requited and unrequited, as well as reincarnation.
The play begins with a horrific thunder storm, plenty of lightning and deadly floods. Little Ti Moune, orphaned by the storm, is rescued from the branches of a tree where she escaped from being swept away by the rising water. As played by Deja Lylah Theroux, age six, in the large cast (30), she is an enthusiastic sprite whose artistic energy is magnetic. This is her theatrical debut. She could be a future star that emerges from the training inherent within community theaters, such as Exit 7, that honor high standards.
Most of Exit 7's Youth Players are new faces. Those who auditioned and made the cut and hung on through tough rehearsals comprised primarily of music and dance – 22 musical numbers loaded with intricate choreography – are either smitten by the theater bug and/or believe in honoring their commitment to rehearsals and performances. The script demands full commitment, and by golly, the cast meets the challenge. Especially with a young cast, the adults in their lives deserve recognition for turning their lives inside out to transport tomorrow’s Tony nominees to rehearsals.
The fruits of Director Hillary Wildman’s labors – her blocking and pace – prove she’s had experience herding cats. The cast, including the neophytes, demonstrate respect for the discipline demanded by the stage which, when honored, lifts a production from the unrealistic, spontaneous idea of let’s-put-on-a-show (your garage or mine?) to a production that more often than not hits its marks.
As Co-Choreographers, Dorin Rufer and Cheryl Chant keep the action moving with sequences that are fresh. The Costumers – Winnie Cardaropoli, Nancy Gonzalez, Cheryl Chant, Judy Hemmingway, Sonia Henderson, Mary Hernandez, Karen Ntagkounakis – keep the tropics alive with vibrant colors; within one of the big production numbers, four little frogs with huge, bulging eyes, have their own syncopated choreography.
Clever costuming rescues need for more male actors in a ballroom dance sequence: the girls wear long dresses; the "boys" wear while jackets and Bermuda shorts. Problem solved.
Technical Director, Set Designer, Master Carpenter Paul Hamel has nailed it again, from the romantically entwined palm trees through the mountain for the gods, moveable souvenir booths, lattice gates studded with flowers, and more. The Scenic Artists – Ken Samonds, Jessica Sweeney, Sylvia Staples, Diane Lamoureaux – evoke the lush undergrowth of tropical island scenery gilded with prolific flowers. of shy pastels to the boldly brazen.
A musical deserves first-rate support, and the eight-person orchestra playing multiple instruments provides rhythm and island atmosphere, especially the flutes and percussion. The musicians are Karla Newmark (Musical Director) and Bonnie Germain (synthesiers), Nate Carr (saxophones), Nancy Miller-Sanborn and Katherine Sanborn (flutes), Tyler Peyman (guitar), Sherri Jyringi (bass), and Kevin Barker (percussion).
On opening night, the second act was stronger than the first, partly because of so many components of the story to absorb and perhaps any of the cast with opening night jitters had recognized that the audience’s expectant faces were on their side.
CAST
Little Ti Moune: Deja Theroux
Little Girl: Teyla McAdoo
Mama Euralie: Eleanor Tynan
TonTon Julian: Chad Nowlan
Ti Moune: Taylor-Jordan Fournier
Daniel/Beauxhomme: Troy Sanders
Armand/Daniel's Father/Gatekeeper: TBD
Asaka: Jasmine Goodspeed
Papa Ge: Normand Caissie
Erzulie: Naomi Leslie
Agwe: Nick Gilfor
Andrea: Erica Paul
Storyteller 1: Mackenzie Johnson
Storyteller 2: Ari Michaels
Storyteller 3: Emily Tyburski
Storyteller 4: TBD
Storyteller 5: Mackenzie Johnson
Storyteller 6: Arianna DiMaio
Storyteller 7: Nonni Ntagkounakis
Daniel's Son: Tatyana Gonzalez
Chorus of Storytellers, Peasants, Gossipers, and Grandhommes
Arrianna DiMaio - Dance Captain
Aalyia Ackerman
Jenna Thompson
Casey Banville
Dominique Libera
Khristine Consuegra
Racquel Ackerman
Starlenna Lafleur
Rebecca Henderson
Juliette Zielinski
Kelsey Hernandez
Josh Labonte
Kid's Tech Crew
Connor Lafleur
Michaela Cutler
Griffin Lafleur
The following synopsis of Once on This Island is lifted from Exit 7 Players’ website (www.Exit7Players.org):
Once on This Island
Book by Lynn Ahrens
Music by Stephen Flaherty
Lyrics by Lynn Ahrens
Based on My Love, My Love by Rosa GuyOne Act, Book Musical, Rated PG
Original Broadway version
This highly original and theatrical Caribbean adaptation of the popular fairy tale "The Little Mermaid" garnered eight Tony nominations for its Broadway run, including Best Musical, Book and Score. In almost non-stop song and dance, the show tells the story of Ti Moune, a peasant girl who rescues and falls in love with Daniel, a wealthy boy from the other side of her island. When Daniel is returned to his people, the fantastical gods who rule the island guide Ti Moune on a quest to test the strength of her love against the powerful forces of prejudice, hatred and death.
"Once On This Island" is a director/choreographer's dream, an intimate show presented in a dance/movement-driven style reminiscent of story theatre, with a small band and minimal - though colorful - sets and costumes that capture the imagination of the audience. Its catchy, contemporary, and Caribbean-flavored score by the Tony Award-winning songwriting team of Lynn Ahrens and Stephen Flaherty ("Ragtime" and the animated film "Anastasia") includes tender ballads and rousing celebratory numbers for an ensemble cast of strong singers.
Directed by Hillary Wildman, Musically Directed by Karla Newmark, Choreographed by Cheryl Chant, and Produced by Pam Rose.
Show dates Aug 6, 7, 13, 14, 20, & 21 at 7:30 PM.
Wednesday, August 11 at 1 PM and Sunday, August 15 at 3 PM.
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