Audience Reactions and Comments

[Acting Up Stage]

Post any reactions or comments you had to Once On This Island here! And don't forget to email [e-mail] with any questions you may have, and we'll find the answer and post it here. We hope you enjoyed the show!

[Angela]

I just saw a performance of 'Once On This Island'. It was fabulous. The choreography, lyrics and overall performance was superb. The notion of class, race and color was handled in a way that was honest and gripping. The perfect blend of minimal props and set decoration was in keeping with the subtlety of themes that are as relevant today as they were during colonial times. This musical did not detract from the serious tone of the performance -- it merely enhanced the message of hope striving to surpass despair.

[Cindy]

When can I see it again??? Both I and my friend loved it . We have wanted to see this show for many years and were so excited that you brought it to Toronto . I loved seeing Arlene in another show (I saw her in Caroline or change and talked about it for weeks!). I was also wondering if you offer subscriptions! I love the shows you are choosing to put on. I can't wait to tell friends and colleagues to see this show. Absolutely made my week and will definitely have me singing the songs with a song on my face for the rest of the week. I was almost in tears watching the show because it was so beautifully done - the cast was well chosen, loved the live band, it was well worth the wait.

Thank you for putting on these shows. I am so happy the flyer for this show was sent to me.

[Jean]

Loved the show, it was great fun. So much energy. We felt like dancing out of the theatre.

[Michael]

I just wanted to say thank you for bringing this musical to Toronto. I have only ever cried once before while watching a musical and that was Stratford's 2009 production of West Side Story. This musical changed that - I cried at the end of this one. Thank you.

[Larry]

I loved it!
In Acting Up Stage's production the wonderful music was still there, making me move in my seat.
The ensemble was excellent and the staging was impeccable.
The thrust stage which allowed us to view the show from slightly above rather than below the water line and in close proximity to the action kept it intimate and involving.
Thank you to everyone involved in the production and to Acting Up Stage for bringing it back.
BRAVO!

[Jerusha]

Truly enjoyed seeing the performance. I haven't seen "once" in a few years and was blessed to relive the musical just as if it was my first time seeing it. Directing and choreography were paramount,great use of the space.

[Katelyn]

It was a great performance! I loved it from start to finish. As a dancer/dance teacher I am always watching the choreography and I loved it! Everything fit so perfectly! The main thing I gathered from this show was passion. It reminded me that if you love what you're doing, you will be an expert at it and you will radiate that passion. It reminded me of why I love to dance! I love it because dancing makes you feel something, it makes others feel something.
Thank you for sharing such a passionate piece. I left smiling and glowing!

Best wishes for the final shows and the future! A great cast here indeed!

[Terry Crowley]

A great production of a significant musical, significantly different from Broadway. In nearly all respects I thought the quality higher than I am accustomed to encountering Off-Broadway in NYC.

[Hedy]

My friend and I thoroughly enjoyed the show. As we are both 70+ and from the Caribbean, we could relate very well to the historical relevance of the issues being explored. Shadeism existed back then in our society , still does today, and even more so in Toronto where I now live. Why else would highly qualified people have been denied access to employment or promotions etc. Shows like “Once …” brings the issue to the forefront.

The setting, so beautifully established, coupled with the pulsating background music, the vibrant colours in costumes, the subtle symbolical accents, such as masks or furniture, etc transported me back to my youthful days. The seamless scene changes allowed the story to be told without any noticeable interruption. It was so obvious that the actors had their hearts and souls in the presentation. It was a thoroughly enjoyable sow. My afternoon was well spent. I only wish shows like this could have a wider audience.

[Trevor]

Loved the show tonight.
I've been with Island for almost 20 years, I first heard it in high school and I've never seen a production mounted.
I bawled the whole time basically.

Let me switch brains now and also say: I have conflicting feelings about the design choices.
The costumes drew attention to the important colonialist themes of the piece. Having the villagers in tourist gear/Western leftovers reminded me of their relationship to the West. But at the same time, it seemed to take away the sense of the village of Ti Moon's childhood as a pure place. Which may well be the point; I understand - but I missed the idea of a place where the spirit of a community was untouched.

I also was at a loss about the skid pile tree. It was great when Ti Moon was discovered there; and again the reminder that the village was working under the shadow of the West was clear. But having such a major piece then ignored and not used again seemed to waste it.

My friends hate it when I get critical because we all loved it so much. Perhaps I'm not criticizing at all - perhaps the blessing is that you didn't allow me to wander into the magic of the piece without also reminding me of the problematic relationship of black culture to the West.

Most of all, I admire the choice to put on this piece at all. Love your playbill. Congratulations.