Workshop to perform Island musical
by Mary Barrera, reporter

    The South Campus musical theater workshop has worked the past few weeks to prepare Once on This Island, directed by Patricia McCormick and opening tonight.

   Joe Berry choreographs the musical, with music under the direction of Ricky Pope.

   The story, an adaptation of the Little Mermaid tale, is set in the Caribbean.

   A young peasant girl named TiMoune, played by LaShada Jackson, cares for a young man of the wealthy Grandhommes, Daniel, played by Tyler Walker, who was injured in a car accident.

   As they fall in love, the dynamic forces of their two worlds collide.

   To complicate things further, the gods intervene. They satisfy their curiosity by leaving TiMoune with a difficult choice, Jackson said.

   “TiMoune is very innocent. She falls in love with a guy and honestly believes they can be together,” she said.

   She is strong-willed and defiant, which eventually leaves her broken-hearted, Jackson said.

   Daniel is more concerned with himself and he disregards his peasant past, Walker said.

   “Daniel is a man of mixed peasant and French high class. He falls in love with TiMoune, but knows he is unable to marry her because of his status, and they are forced to deal with it in the end,” he said.

   Agwe, the god of water, is played by Djemal Burris.

   “Agwe conjures up the whole journey. It is a test of love,” he said.

   Chris Randle plays Papa Ge, god of death.

   D’Arcy Monday plays Asaka, mother of the earth, and Terilyn Monday plays Erzulie, the fourth god.

   “The gods compete to see who comes out on top,” Monday said.

   Randle said, “It’s like Zeus and them; they’re gods, and they have nothing else to do.”

   Each song tells part of the story, Jackson said.

   “The music is mostly upbeat with some love songs and some sad songs,” she said.

   Once on This Island runs tonight through Saturday, Dec. 7, at 8 p.m. nightly with a 2 p.m. matinee Saturday.

   Admission is free for TCC students, faculty and staff.

   Ticket prices are $3 for senior citizens, children and other students and $5 for general admission. Reservations are suggested.

   For information and reservations, contact the South Campus box office at 817-515-4642 or 817-515-4526.