Civic Playhouse trip to ‘Island’ is heart-tugging

Tom Titus

Polynesian legend is set to music in “Once on This Island,” Lynn

Abrens’ captivating tale of undying devotion and unrequited love, now

on view at the Costa Mesa Civic Playhouse.

This is not your typical musical comedy. Cast members slide in and

out of different characters, and most playgoers poring over their

programs will have little idea who is playing whom, save for the

principal characters, those few who are named in the show.

Yet the production, directed by Rovin Jay, proves entertaining and

heart-tugging as a company of mostly youthful entertainers passes

down this legendary saga of a peasant girl smitten by a prince. Be

advised, however, this is not a South Pacific version of

“Cinderella.”

The players, who shift from penniless peasants to pampered

patricians and back again during the course of the musical fable,

function as a tropical Greek chorus, enriching the show with strong

background contributions. Choreographer Ruben Rodriguez moves his

actor-dancers at a near-dizzying pace under the musical direction of

Stephen Hulsey.

Central to the story’s unraveling thread is Erica Stewart-Givhan,

radiant as the island peasant girl Ti Moune, plucked from a tree

after a hurricane as a child. Her quest for an ultimate romantic

destiny reaches its crescendo when a young prince (Matthew Junmar)

from the island’s ruling family wipes out in his car near Ti Moune’s

village and is nursed back to health by the adoring girl.

Eventually, the two fall in love, but social and familial

obstacles thrust in their path are too inflexible to be overcome. Not

to mention the gods that hold sway over the people -- particularly

the menacing Jason Siebert in the guise of Death himself, whose quota

must be met.

Mark J. Phillips and Janet McGregor as Ti Moune’s adoptive parents

may be a bit young for their roles, but they elicit heartwarming

affection even as they wisely warn the girl against bucking the odds

with the gods. Kelly Kenny hardly is physically believable as a

Polynesian goddess, but her lusty, energetic performance enriches the

Costa Mesa production.

Also impressive are Gary Trinidad as Armand, Daniel’s unbending

father, and Abigail Kinnahan as the cool, noble princess with a

childhood claim on Daniel’s future. Ten-year-old Kayla Montgomery is

particularly appealing as the younger Ti Moune, while T.J. Dawson and

Ann-Marie Scott complete an enthusiastic cast in supporting

assignments.

“Once on This Island” warms to its task with a somewhat moderate

first act, but hits its stride with gusto in the second, due in no

small measure to the expressive features and catlike movement of

Stewart-Givhan in the critical role of Ti Moune. May the gods smile

on her career.

* TOM TITUS reviews local theater for the Daily Pilot. His reviews

appear Saturdays.