Review: Once on This Island at Theatre Raleigh
At its very core, theater is the art of stories: telling them, sharing them, passing them down to the next generation of imaginations. Theatre Raleigh’s production of Once on This Island takes this message to heart and does just that.
Set in the Caribbean, Once on This Island reimagines Hans Christian Andersen’s The Little Mermaid and is based on the novel My Love, My Love by Rosa Guy, this time with a focus on class, colonialism, and the sacrifices we are willing to make for love.
Directed by Christopher D. Betts, the production opens with the village storytellers comforting a young girl during a thunderstorm by telling her the story of Ti Moune (Amaya White), a poor village girl who falls in love with the rich, lighter-skinned Daniel (Lucas Hinds Babcock), who is descended from French colonizers. After finding Daniel injured in a car accident, Ti Moune makes a deal with the gods to save his life in exchange for hers, binding them together and believing they are in love. However, Daniel scoffs at Ti Moune’s aspirations of marriage, telling her instead they can never be more than lovers and forcing her to acknowledge her promise to the gods.
White shines as brightly as her colorful dress (thanks to scenic and costume designer Stephanie Bahniuk), singing with a voice that manages to be both sweet and delicate but also strong and rich with vocal control. Every number, including “Waiting for Life,” is an auditory feast, and her number “Forever Yours” with Babcock is the epitome of a musical theater “falling in love” song. Brimming with fiery passion, White strikes the balance of girlish innocence and heroine bravery, all while dancing barefoot across a set full of real sand and a long pier of wooden boards.
Granting Ti Moune’s wish to find her purpose in life and bringing her to Daniel are the gods Asaka (Tara Lashan Clinkscales), Erzulie (Shayla Brielle G.), Papa Ge (Parris Lewis), and Agwé (Okisha Reneé Wells). As each god unleashes their power and “gift” on Ti Moune, they are given their own moment to shine. Their numbers “Rain,” “Forever Yours,” “Mama Will Provide,” and “The Human Heart” each embody one of the gods and their specific power as they join forces in a regal show of strength and might. They are given a symbolic color that matches their persona (green for Mother of Earth Asaka, blue for water god Agwé, red and pink for love goddess Erzulie, and purple for demon of Death Papa Ge), and are draped in a collection of fabulous accessories that distinguish when they are storytellers and when they are gods.
The magic of the gods is increased when they are joined by the cast of storytellers (who also take on other roles in the show, including Ti Moune’s adoptive parents Mama Euralie, played by Natasha Gore, and Tonton Julian, played by Gerard M. Williams) and their layered harmonies, bringing color, joy, and constant movement as they flock around Ti Moune.
As with most Theatre Raleigh productions, the dancing in the show becomes a character of its own, thanks to choreographer Taylor Mackenzie Smith. Coupled with bright, colorful, tropical scenic design from Bahniuk and property design from Lora McIntosh, the result is an aesthetically pleasing and joyful spectacle.
The production also features a book and lyrics from Lynn Ahrens, music from Stephen Flaherty, lighting design from Jeremy Diamond, sound design from Cameron Fitzpatrick, and wig and hair design from Tenel Dorsey.
Once on This Island runs at Theatre Raleigh through Sunday, November 23, 2025. Tickets can be purchased here. ASL interpreted performance will occur on Saturday, November 22nd at 2:00 PM. To purchase tickets with guaranteed viewing of the ASL interpreters, please email boxoffice@theatreraleigh.com.
Feature photo courtesy of Theatre Raleigh Arts Center.