Taste of romance’s bitter, sweet soup

WHAT would you do if someone you’ve always longed to spend your life with, walked down the aisle with someone else on what was supposed to be your wedding day?The afore-mentioned is the question Once on this Island posed to the audience at the National Theatre early this week.The play was staged by pupils and students of Lincoln International School from Tuesday to Thursday.For TiMoune, a young orphan on the island, death is the solution for resting a tired heart, punctured by the cruel rejection of her only object of passion –– Daniel. Left with no parents, friends and lover, TiMoune cannot bare the forest of loneliness. This she must end. The disillusionment kills her softly.The Caribbean retelling of Hans Christian Anderson’s play portrays love, joy in the beginning, transforming into disillusionment and thereafter climaxing into hope and joy.The play opens on a storm-tossed island where villagers comfort a frightened little girl TiMoune’s story of love and betrayal.The performance is enhanced by a commentator who gives a flash front of events as they follow. The poverty-stricken villagers take up roles. They describe their world –– how their lives are ruled by powerful demons, gods, goddesses and wealthy ‘grandhommes’.The storytellers (villagers) take us through TiMoune’s journey to love and betrayal. They pantomime this journey through active imagination of many characters.Daniel and TiMoune swear never to let go of each other till death do them part. Though TiMoune stands by Daniel’s side even when he is badly injured in an accident, Daniel fails to keep the promise. But there is a secret which explodes on TiMoune and Daniel’s would-be wedding day.The influence of the gods again. Daniel tells TiMoune he was betrothed to Andrea Devereaux since childhood and that he was not ready to forfeit the gods’ decision. TiMoune, dressed in her maroon bridal outfit watches desolately, as Andrea and Daniel tie the knot. her heart slips in the wilderness. There is no more reason for living. Death is the only solution.Song and dance at the opening gives the performance a powerful start. There is laughter echoing across the island, which almost overshadows the influence at the gods. With the love songs and the unity exuded, the villagers at least do not have to be reminded about their poverty stricken island. Brightly coloured costumes also enhance the mood.However, the happiness comes to an abrupt end when Daniel is injured in an accident. The music subsides and the dances come to an abrupt end. There is a dull air sweeping across the island. Such is Andersen’s manner of portraying misery when the life of a grandhomme (a powerful being) is at stake.The use of visible images adds colour and meaning to the 20th century play. The rickety huts on stage highlight the poverty on the island. However, the artificial trees and over grown creeping plants, water down the vibrancy.The fierce-looking demon’s faces and bodies hidden behind black paint, gives the play an evil touch. Most frightening is PapaGe, the demon of death whose every appearance on stage sends the audience quaking in their skins.There is however, hope at last when TiMoune is resurrected from the earth as a beautiful tree, one that shelters villagers and grandhommes for years, courtesy of the gods.The student’s pit orchestra and makeup contribute in making the play a success.The entertaining musical, produced by Sue Rhodes and directed by Nancy Kerr teachers at the school, has successfully followed in the footsteps of previous school’s performances which include: Grease, Joseph and the Technicolour Dreamcoat, Little Shop Horrors and The Wiz.ends