"Once on This Island" - by Lynn Ahrens & Stephen Flaherty - Arlington Friends of the Drama/AFD Theatre (Arlington, MA.) - REVIEW
(Cover Photo: The CAST of "ONCE ON THIS ISLAND" by Lynn Ahrens and Stephen Flaherty now playing at AFD Theatre in Arlington, MA. through March 22, 2026. Photo Credit: Leslie Maiocca)
By Kevin T. Baldwin
METRMAG Reviewer
# 774-242-6724
“And out of what we live and believe, our lives become the stories that we weave."
- ("Once On This Island) / Lynn Ahrens and Stephen Flaherty
Arlington Friends of the Drama/AFD Theatre
Presents the Musical
"ONCE ON THIS ISLAND"
Book and Lyrics by Lynn Ahrens
Music by Stephen Flaherty
Directed by Michelle Aguillon
Music Director Div Slomin
Choreographer Jaime Brown
Cast Includes: Victoria Lee as “Ti Moune,” Alanah Peters as “Little Ti Moune,” Edward "Eddie" Ayala as “Daniel Beauxhomme/Daniel's Son,” Christophé Doman as “Papa Ge,” Titiana Tambi as “Erzulie,” Marck-Hens Jules as “Agwe,” Orlik Guzman as “Asaka,” Kayla Maloney as “Mama Euralie,” Kory Turner as “Tonton Julian,” Nina Nieves as “Andrea Deveraux,” Tiff Gideon as “Armand/Armande Beauxhomme,” Evie Phelps as “The Little Girl.”
The Story Tellers/Gossips: Andrea Gabriella, Sally Jean-Baptiste, Esther Lin, Bhanu Gopal (Dance Captain), Layo Ojo, Cathryn Philippe, Tonya Rabouin (Dance Captain), Amaya Sangurima-Jimenez.
Additional Creative Team:
Production Manager – Susan Harrington; Stage Manager – Sarah O’Neill; Assistant Stage Managers – Andrea Gabriella, Addie Luperchio; Set Design and Set Tech – Audrey Ellis; Set Crew – Charlie Carr, Katie Carroll, Noel Cummings, Doug Feinburg, Jacob Gendelman, Susan Harrington, Tom Lemere, Shayna Loeffler, Suzi Lubar, Louise Moran, Juan Perez, Ken Theriault, Regina Walker, David Warnock, Ginger Webb, Hayley Whelan; Costume Design – Anna Silva; Hair and Makeup – Nala J. Wu; Lighting Design – Vyren Gray; Lighting Crew – Miriam Boardman; Sound Design – Todd Short; Props and Set Dressing – Michelle M. Aguillon, Juan Perez; Dance Captains – Tonya Rabouin, Bhanu Gopal; Intimacy Director – Anna Silva.
Production Manager Susan Harrington; Stage Managed by Sarah O’Neill.
Performances:
March 6, 2026 through March 22, 2026
(Contact Box Office for Exact Times)
AFD THEATRE, 22 Academy Street, Arlington, MA. 02476
TICKETS:
For more information or tickets, contact AFD THEATRE at www.afdtheatre.org/buy-tickets or by calling the box office at # 781-646-5922 or emailing boxoffice@afdtheatre.org.
BUY TICKETS
COVID 19 PROTOCOLS
Contact Venue for Most Updated COVID-19 Safety Protocols and Information.
(Warning: The following review contains spoilers)
Arlington Friends of the Drama (AFD Theatre) offers a vibrant and imaginative staging of the musical "ONCE ON THIS ISLAND," now playing for the month of March.
Even with its backdrop of a land where an oppressive power struggle exists, this AFD Theatre production of "ONCE ON THIS ISLAND" never loses its unbridled sense of optimism.
It is a fun, joyful and celebratory musical that unfolds in an almost festival-like atmosphere as the united cast begins to "tell its story.”
The musical, written by Stephen Flaherty and Lynn Ahrens and based upon the novel "My Love, My Love" by Rosa Guy, is unusually lighthearted considering there are elements to this story set in early Haiti that are as grim as any Grimm fairy tale, only more historical in nature than allegorical.
In "ONCE ON THIS ISLAND" the story that is told is of the beautiful Ti Moune (first played by Alanah Peters as “Little Ti Moune,” then by Victoria Lee as the grown-up “Ti Moune”).
Ti Moune is an island peasant girl spared a tragic fate by the Gods who rule the island:
- Asaka (Orlik Guzman), Mother of the Earth;
- Agwé (Marck-Hens Jules), God of Water;
- Erzulie (Titiana Tambi), Goddess of Love; and
- Papa Ge (Christophé Doman), who is the Demon of Death.
The Gods save her, but Ti Moune's ultimate destiny is still to come yet and appears to be a mystery...even, at times, to them.
(Photo: Victoria Lee as “Ti Moune” with Edward "Eddie" Ayala as “Daniel Beauxhomme” in a moment from "ONCE ON THIS ISLAND" by Lynn Ahrens and Stephen Flaherty now playing at AFD Theatre in Arlington, MA. through March 22, 2026. Photo Credit: Leslie Maiocca)
Ti Moune saves young Daniel Beauxhomme (Edward "Eddie" Ayala) a “grande homme,” a rich member of the ruling class of the island of Haiti, also known as the “Jewel of the Antilles."
Ayala gives an earnest performance as Daniel but has little chemistry opposite Lee, especially in their more intimate scenes and duets.
Each of the AFD Theatre actors portraying the Gods is given their respective moment to shine and do so quite well:
Orlik Guzman, as Asaka, simply beams as she sings the delightful “Mama Will Provide;” As Agwé, Marck-Hens Jules offers a splendid rendition of the song “Rain;” Titiana Tambi as Erzulie is utterly exuberant with her story of the “Human Heart,” while, almost in contrast to these others, Christophé Doman as Papa Ge ominously renders the portentous "Forever Yours" as Ti Moune makes a fateful bargain.
Under the combined guidance of director Michelle Aguillon, Music Director Div Slomin and Choreographer Jaime Brown, the AFD "ONCE ON THIS ISLAND" ensemble faithfully executes the musical story.
Brown's choreography is breathtaking, and the close-knit ensemble appears to perform every single dance move with an unbridled enthusiasm that is infectious.
(Photo: Christophé Doman as “Papa Ge” with Titiana Tambi as “Erzulie” in a moment from "ONCE ON THIS ISLAND" by Lynn Ahrens and Stephen Flaherty now playing at AFD Theatre in Arlington, MA. through March 22, 2026. Photo Credit: Leslie Maiocca)
Victoria Lee is quite convincing in the role of Ti Moune, who is defiant of her loving adoptive parents, Mama Euralie (Kayla Maloney) and Tonton Julian (Kory Turner) when she chooses to heal an injured Daniel, with whom she falls in love.
Both Maloney and Turner are wonderful as Ti Moune’s doting parents (normally cast as much older but here are visibly quite youthful in appearance) who want nothing but for their daughter to be safe and happy...and know in their hearts she will be neither as their daughter’s intended love affair with Daniel simply cannot be and is doomed to failure.
As Daniel and Ti Moune’s relationship evolves, we are also introduced to a daughter of Daniel's family friend, Andrea Deveraux (Nina Nieves), who becomes central to the ultimate fate of Ti Moune.
Nieves provides an interesting take on Andrea, normally portrayed as vicious, spiteful and jealous, threatened by the mere presence of Ti Moune.
Instead, here Nieves simply presents Andrea as a “product of her environment” - considerably less threatened by the presence of Ti Moune in Daniel’s life but still needing to address the Ti Moune “situation.”
(Photo: "Story Teller/Gossip" Amaya Sangurima-Jimenez in a moment from "ONCE ON THIS ISLAND" by Lynn Ahrens and Stephen Flaherty now playing at AFD Theatre in Arlington, MA. through March 22, 2026. Photo Credit: Leslie Maiocca)
The AFD Theatre single set design is meticulous in how it utilizes the AFD space and the use of specialized illumination is also quite impressive.
Costuming and make-up for the production is completely aligned not only with the surroundings in which the story takes place but within the spirit of the story being regaled to us.
The trio of musicians led by AFD Music Director Div Slomin are marvelously resilient performing the complex, 90-minute score.
As constructed, the "ONCE ON THIS ISLAND" score elicits a welcoming feeling as the story is enacted.
This is a legend told through song and dance – one told by a people who are a collective of geniality and joy, giving the audience a sense of walking into a warm, almost familial embrace.
The above proves to be a bit more ironic as the story of Haiti's racially based class divisiveness is also told in tandem - but with far less of an embrace and more with earned scorn, ridicule and repudiation.
(Photo: Orlik Guzman as “Asaka” with Victoria Lee as “Ti Moune” in a scene from "ONCE ON THIS ISLAND" by Lynn Ahrens and Stephen Flaherty now playing at AFD Theatre in Arlington, MA. through March 22, 2026. Photo Credit: Leslie Maiocca)
As we delve further into the dramatic relationships of the characters in the musical, we also learn the tale's themes of acceptance, of co-existence, of a people united in their various struggles to survive on this island so they could continue to tell their stories.
Is "ONCE ON THIS ISLAND" a cautionary tale or is it a rather a chronicle of heroic optimism - optimism found in a place and among a people where hope is usually quite hard to find?
In either case, ultimately, their heroically optimistic narrative, well told by the cast and creative team at AFD Theatre, becomes a story that is required for us all to learn....and from which to learn.
(Photo: The CAST of "ONCE ON THIS ISLAND" by Lynn Ahrens and Stephen Flaherty now playing at AFD Theatre in Arlington, MA. through March 22, 2026. Photo Credit: Leslie Maiocca)
"ONCE ON THIS ISLAND" continues at AFD Theatre in Arlington, MA. until March 22nd, 2026 and reminds us all of the importance of stories that still need to be told but also need to be told accurately.
Coming up next at AFD Theatre will be Lauren M. Gunderson's adaptation of Louisa May Alcott's immortal classic “LITTLE WOMEN” beginning May 1st and continuing through May 17th, 2026.
For more information or tickets, contact AFD THEATRE at www.afdtheatre.org/buy-tickets or by calling the box office at # 781-646-5922 or emailing boxoffice@afdtheatre.org.
BUY TICKETS
Approximately 90 minutes with no intermission.
Kevin T. Baldwin is a member of the American Theatre Critics Association (ATCA)
@MetrmagReviews
@Theatre_Critics
ABOUT THE SHOW
"ONCE ON THIS ISLAND" is one of the most beloved musicals in Broadway history.
Powered by a pulsating Calypso beat, this delightful musical fable tells the epic story of Ti Moune, a fearless peasant girl who, guided by the mighty island gods, sets out on a remarkable journey to follow her heart and find her place in the world.
"ONCE ON THIS ISLAND" features a joyous, uplifting score by Tony Award-winners Lynn Ahrens and Stephen Flaherty (“Ragtime,” “Anastasia”).
“A bewitching celebration of love, resilience, and the spirit of hope.” - NY Daily News
ABOUT ARLINGTON FRIENDS OF THE DRAMA/AFD THEATRE
ARLINGTON FRIENDS OF THE DRAMA, now known as AFD THEATRE, was founded in 1923 and is one of the ten oldest continually operating community theatre groups in the country. Now located in the former St. John's Episcopal Church, which has been extensively updated and made handicap-accessible. AFD THEATRE is among the finest area playhouses for actors, directors, production designers and audiences to produce and enjoy live theatre. About AFD THEATRE Seasons: AFD THEATRE puts on four productions: two musicals and two straight plays. AFD THEATRE holds auditions months ahead, and rehearse evenings and weekends. AFD THEATRE welcomes you to join the fun: help build sets, make costumes, do lights. Usher or sell concessions. AFD THEATRE is a community endeavor that seeks to engage all ages in the fun and exciting act of putting on a play!
22 Academy Street
Arlington, MA. 02476
# 781-646-5922
