Presented by Curveball Creative in association with Hayes Theatre Co, the Olivier Award-winning Once on this Island is set to premiere in Sydney this August. We heard from some of the cast for a Quick Five.
Based on the Hans Christian Anderson tale, The Little Mermaid, the musical from the Tony Award-winning songwriting duo of Lynn Ahrens and Stephen Flaherty (Seussical, Ragtime) is ready to inject some vibrant explorations of culture into Australia’s own rich tapestry in Once on This Island.
Ti Moune, a humble peasant girl, courageously saves the life of Daniel, a wealthy boy from the far side of the island, and soon finds herself captivated by love. Little does she know, the island’s proud Gods wager on a timeless question: which is stronger, love or death? The unwitting pawn in their bet, Ti Moune’s life hangs in the balance as she follows her heart.
With book and lyrics by Ahrens and music by Flaherty, this new production is directed by Brittanie Shipway, with musical direction by Dylan Pollard, and choreography by Leah Howard. With an energetic and radiant score, this tale of love, sacrifice, and the transformative power of storytelling is sure to wow Sydney audiences.
We heard from cast members Thalia Osegueda Santos (Ti Moune), Alex Tye (Daniel), Rebecca Verrier (Papa Ge), and Paula Parore (Asaka), as Theatre Thoughts threw them the Quick Five for your preparation before seeing the production.
Read the full Quick Five Q&A below, then head over to Hayes Theatre’s website to book your tickets to the season which runs from the 2nd August.
Finish this sentence: Once on This Island is a story about…
Thalia Osegueda Santos (Ti Moune): …the fierce resilience of the human heart and spirit. It’s about love, identity, and the lengths we go to in order to find sanctuary in a divided world.
Alex Tye (Daniel): …a fearless girl whose determination, love, and hope withstands the test of time; breaking the mould and surprising even the Island gods.
Rebecca Verrier (Papa Ge): …an orphan, a young peasant girl who falls in love with a young aristocrat of mixed race on the island of Haiti. It is also worth noting that this story was based on Rosa Guy‘s novel, My Love, My Love, which was interestingly inspired by The Little Mermaid.
Paula Parore (Asaka): …love, loss, and a little island chaos — where the gods always have the last word.
Describe your character in three words
Santos: Healer, Fearless, Lover.
Tye: Privileged. Romantic. Impulsive.
Verrier: Panther-like, tornado winds, and unpredictable.
Parore: Fierce. Free. Full-hearted.
What’s the one scene or moment in the show that hits you hardest every time?
Santos: The moment in the show that hits me the hardest is between Mama, Ton Ton and I. Ti Moune makes a decision that she knows will change her life, and she can’t look back.
Tye: Ti Moune’s dance sequence is so moving and impactful; A true celebration of culture and liberation. Our Ti Moune, Thalia, is the driving force behind this number and getting to dance alongside her each day is a true privilege. It’s such an honour to be apart of something so joyful and innately human.
Verrier: Hands down, the “Forever Mine” reprise hits me the hardest. Some reprises seem inescapable, but this one is next level. This might be the song in the score with the most internal and external surprises, featuring my cunning role. This song introduces the conflict with the sudden appearance of Papa Ge, alluring Ti Moune to promise her own life in exchange for allowing Daniel to live. The stakes are very high.
Parore: That final moment of transformation. It sneaks up on me every time — tears. Every. Time.
Favorite song to sing or hear in the show?
Santos: My favourite song to hear in the show is “Human Heart”. Cypriana [Singh] is the most beautiful and gentle Erzulie, and her voice is simply magical. That song can’t help but make you fall in love with the story and our beautiful Erzulie. It’s one of the few moments in the show where we can sit in the peace and comfortableness of the love that forms and blooms.
Tye: “Mama Will Provide” is and always will be an iconic addition to the musical theatre canon. Our Asaka, Paula, brings such a unique and exciting interpretation of the song to the stage.
Verrier: The whole score is magical, yet I have a real soft spot for “Forever Mine.” It might be the song in the score with the most surprises. It begins as a moody, minor-key love song, and yet it kicks in with an unforeseen driving sound with percussive jabs from the ensemble.
Parore: “Part of Us.” It’s so soulful and sacred — it feels like we’re channelling every ancestor we’ve ever known.
What’s one thing audiences might not expect from this production?
Santos: The celebration of all walks of life. Our production of Once On This Island not only celebrates the story and cultural significance of the show, but celebrates and shares the cultures of all of the cast that are so special and unique to this production on Gadigal land.
Tye: I think Gadigal audiences will be surprised by how relevant this story is to current-day Australia and our history. Our show has been created by a vastly diverse group of creatives and performers which is what makes this production so pertinent to our own understanding of prejudice and cultural division in Australia. I don’t think audiences will be expecting that.
Verrier: The pristine detail in every element of this show is beyond words. The dynamic delivery will be something the audience won’t expect, and it will captivate even the non-believers or first timers to a musical theatre show. The storytelling is out of this world, led by two incredible creatives, Brit [Shipway] and Leah [Howard], who have honestly answered my prayers to be in a show like this. It honestly has something for everyone, and the Hayes Theatre hasn’t seen anything like it before – a true revival.
Parore: That they’ll be laughing, crying, and shimmying in their seats — sometimes all at once.
Once On This Island starts performances from 2nd August and runs until 31st August at Hayes Theatre Co in Potts Point. Book your tickets here.
