Review: ONCE ON THIS ISLAND, Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre
Photo credit: Marc Brenner
Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre’s Summer 2023 season opens with Lynn Ahrens and Stephen Flaherty’s Once On This Island. The musical is based on My Love, My Love by Rosa Guy, a reimagining of the Hans Christian Andersen tale, The Little Mermaid. After she is spared in a flood, Ti Moune longs for her life to begin and gains the interest of four gods of the Haitian Vodou religion who send her Daniel (Stephenson Ardern-Sodje), in an attempt to discover whether love or death are more powerful. This new production takes the show outdoors and delivers an array of fun songs and moments of wow with a slightly unclear story.
Throughout Once On This Island, we see a lot of expected fairytale themes; a handsome prince, good versus evil and obstacles for our heroine. However, these are not deeply explored and despite the relatively simplistic plot, it’s difficult to fully invest when approaching this as a romantic fable. Director Ola Ince makes an excellent effort to emphasise the themes of racism, colourism and colonialism, but sadly the source material means there are moments when these serious issues become lost in a relatively short performance. So much detail has clearly been put into this production and Ince’s vision is there but the intricacies may be a little detrimental to the storytelling.
The entire Open Air Theatre’s cast is faultless. As the show starts, they emerge from the back of the set portraying street vendors targeting tourists. The full cast’s burst of energy immediately brings the audience on side with superb vocals and harmonies heard clearly above the wonderfully full-sounding 6-piece band. It’s this strong start with ‘We Dance’ that not only enhances the enjoyment of the other full company songs but unfortunately highlights the lulls in energy that can be felt in some of the sparser moments in the show. Ardern-Sodje does his best as love interest Daniel, a part that, like many Disney princes, does not benefit from great depth. Gabrielle Brooks shines as the determined and naive Ti Moune and her strong acting performance helps to powerfully drive the story along. You can’t help but be drawn to her as she experiences joy, devastation and acceptance.
With a stage positioned in the glorious Regent’s Park surrounded by nature, it’s no wonder this production jumped at the chance to be set here. Real trees shade the minimal staging from set designer Georgia Lowe, helping to create the Caribbean island surroundings and complimented by Jessica Hung Han Yun’s lighting. Despite the chill increasing as the sun goes down during this one-act show, Hung Han Yun’s design provides Haitian warmth. Some staging too assists in bringing the settings to life. Kenrick ‘H20’ Sandy’s choreography offers a physical theatre feel whilst blending different styles of dance in an interesting way. All of these elements collaborate to offer a seamless visual production.
Despite the links with The Little Mermaid, Regent’s Park Theatre’s Once On This Island should not be seen as a fairytale. Ola Ince’s direction heightens the prejudices in this story which is important in giving this story a new intensity. However, the imbalance between issue and fairytale leaves this production feeling a little less satisfying.
Is love or death more powerful? You’ll have to see for yourself, but you can be guaranteed powerhouse performances, slick staging and important themes explored.
*** Three stars
Reviewed by: Cat Hancock
Once on this Island plays at Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre until 10 June, with tickets available here.