Last time I caught Once on this Island, I had no clue about what was in store for me and the rest of the Vera Perez peeps. Due to my constant bickering, my relatives and the Sampaguita bandwagon had seemingly high-tailed along with my plan to leave Sunday lunch early to catch the show. Days before, I simply recalled merrily rolling along the Kostka Walk in Ateneo and glancing at Once’s colorful poster amidst the sea of org announcements in paper white. I marked the show dates on my calendar but never really bothered to take a course of action.
Since it was an "ordinaryong day that Sunday," my family and I impulsively agreed to Cali Shandi ourselves out of Valencia to catch the very last show. You know how "they" say spur-of-the-moment gimmicks are always the best? Whoever "they" really are, were absolutely right. Once on this Island was every bit entertaining. When seated at the far side of the quaint theater and you see people like Lea Salonga dancing and cheering her heart out to each and every musical number, you just know that this musical has got something special up its sleeves. As many theatergoers can attest, the staging last year was fantastic. Personally, I loved it so much that it pushed me to beg dear ol’ Jonjon for a copy of his Broadway CD of Once and enter into some unexplainable trance whenever we start reminiscing about the show. So while you’ve probably grown tired of my hyperbolic anecdotes, now’s your chance to see for yourselves the masterpiece that is Once on this Island.
For those who weren’t able to catch the 2005 run, Once on this Island is actually a story about native peasants and beaux hommes (beautiful ones) living together on opposite sides of one island. Set in the French Antilles, these two different worlds have built an impenetrable social barrier that has stood high since the time of Armand, played by Michael de Mesa. One day however, Ti Moune, portrayed by ABS-CBN’s "Born Diva" winner Raki Vega, encounters Daniel, an aristocrat "stranger in white" whose life she saves from a dreadful car crash. Nursing his wounds, she falls head over heels for the unconscious man and makes it her life’s purpose to care for him as her parents did when they found her orphaned and sheltered in a tree. When Daniel is finally taken back by his family without her knowing, she sets off on a magical journey to find him.
The challenge brought upon by the ethereal deities Asaka, Erzuli, Agwe, and Papa Ge, played by Escalante, Yulo, Williams, and Pangan respectively, to the peasant Ti Moune is tested through her woman-on-the-road journey towards the far side of the island – to find Daniel and prove to these gods that love indeed, conquers all.
Based on the hit novel My Love, My Love by the Trinidadian author Rosa Guy, this spin-off from the classic Little Mermaid tale will feature Gian Magdangal who recently played Willard Hewitt in STAGES’ production of Footloose in place of Once on this Island alumnus Jeffrey Hidalgo. Like his predecessor, he will be playing the role of leading man Daniel. Gala Sanchez is set to reprise her role as the little Ti Moune, along with stage veterans Cathy Azanza, Ring Antonio, also fresh from La Mancha, and Red Nuestro lending their commanding voices to the ensemble.
Performed without an intermission, the musical features a powerful selection of stirring numbers and enchanting ballads composed by the Tony-Award nominated team of Stephen Flaherty and Lynn Ahrens. Most notably, these include the tragically endearing Forever Yours and the upbeat Mama Will Provide that had audiences dancing to Escalante’s phenomenal vocal prowess in the 2005 run.
AAI’s 2006 run of Once on this Island will be under the direction of veteran actor-director Bart Guingona, with choreography by Denisa Reyes, minimalist yet beautiful set design by Gino Gonzales, musical direction by Rony Fortich, and lighting by John Batalla.
The musical will be staged at the Carlos P. Romulo Theater at the RCBC Plaza, Makati on Feb. 3, 4 and 5 at 8 p.m. with 3 p.m. Sunday matinee. For ticket inquiries, call 891-9999 or visit www.ticketworld.com.ph.