St Dunstan’s College stages Once On This Island
Music that brilliantly weaves themes heavily influenced by the instrumentation and rhythms of the Caribbean Islands.
St Dunstan’s College will present Once On This Island — an exciting American musical with book and lyrics by Lynn Ahrens and music by Stephen Flaherty — in September.
It is based on Rosa Guys’ novel My Love, My Love, which was inspired by Hans Christian Andersen’s The Little Mermaid.
Once On This Island was originally directed by Graciela Daniele and was produced off Broadway by Playwrights Horizons, to rave reviews, during the 1989-90 season prior to moving to Broadway.
The story is that of a peasant girl who has fallen in love above her class, told around a fire by a group of Caribbean peasants, as they wait out a terrible storm.
However, as the story unfolds, classic dramatic themes are exposed.
Class distinction, racial prejudice, children pursuing their dreams despite their parents wishes, death, promises and’, at the heart of the story, unrequited love, all combine to create a magical tale.
The music of the show brilliantly weaves themes heavily influenced by the instrumentation and rhythms of the Caribbean Islands.
Once On This Island uses the tradition of storytelling to pass down history, values and insight from one generation to the next.
The musical will be directed and choreographed by Tarry Lee, Amir Ruari Petersen and Zoe Dhooge.
It will be staged in the Kempton Park Civic Theatre, from September 16 to 21, at 7pm, with a matinee on the 21st, at 12.30pm.
