Like all good fairy stories, Hackney Empire’s musical Once On This Island has all the classic elements to create a memorable love story: the clash of two worlds, a ruthless rival, love at first sight and a beautiful heroine, orphaned in a violent storm.
It is in a similar storm where the action begins. As a group of villagers shelter from a raging hurricane, they decide to tell the story of the innocent, peasant girl Ti Moune (Shyko Amos) and the rich Creole planter Daniel (Wayne Perrey) to distract a frightened child in their midst. As the palm trees sway dangerously behind them, they are transported to the colourful world of the ill-fated lovers.
The story begins with the young Ti Moune, who during a storm was separated from her parents and forced to take refuge in a tree. There she was later found by an old couple who took her in and raised her as their own. But their happy, simple existence is shattered when Ti Moune meets Daniel, a handsome, but arrogant member of the wealthy French family Beauxhomme, who, selfish and ignorant, live in an untouchable world where Ti Moune does not and cannot belong.
But believing love can conquer all, the naive girl makes a dangerous deal with the Demon of Death (Jo Servi), while the kind Mother Earth (Sharon D Clarke), God of Water (Johnny Amobi) and grown up fairy godmother the Goddess of Love (Lorna Brown), look on. All the while Ti Moune is blinded by love, not realising that her wide-eyed innocence and willingness to see the good in everything may be the cause of her tragic downfall.
Set against a backdrop of Latin American-inspired, peeling paint buildings, surrounded by sun-bleached billboards and a washed up rowing boat, Once On This Island injects a healthy dose of sun and energy into the currently grey-skied London summer. With vibrant costumes – the highlight being the Demon of Death’s glittery, skeleton-outlined tuxedo – foot stomping dancing, and thundering drums, it is an unashamedly feel-good family musical. Set to a catchy, calypso-infused soundtrack, the songs are exciting and sung with full-hearted passion by the impressive cast, but equally have a familiar, Disney-style feel to them, keeping the attention of even the smallest child.
Ti Moune as the lead character is everything a good heroine should be – gracious, kind, brave and feisty – and the show’s villain, the Demon of Death, complete with cackling laughter and a Joker-esque sinister toothy smile, is a vivid character that brings a small sliver of darkness into what is a show bursting at the seams with light, hope and vibrancy.
CM