‘Once on This Island’ offers tropical romance

The Caribbean got a whole lot closer when Super Summer Theatre debuted its new production Wednesday at Spring Mountain Ranch State Park.

Written by the team of Lynn Ahrens and Stephen Flaherty ("Ragtime"), "Once on This Island" is a one-act musical combining elements of "The Little Mermaid" and "Romeo and Juliet." Based on the Rosa Guy novel "My Love, My Love," it tells the story of a black peasant girl who falls for a mixed-race boy from a rich family. Once the boy is returned to his people, the gods who rule the island guide the girl on a quest to test the strength of her love.

"They're from two different worlds, two different races, and the world doesn't want them to be together," says Steve Huntsman, who directs.

Super Summer Theatre's third installment this season -- after "The Buddy Holly Story" and "West Side Story" -- "Once on This Island" draws from the traditional dance styles of Haiti, Cuba and Trinidad.

"We're using a lot of those influences as well as traditional elements of storytelling -- from Kabuki theater to puppetry," says Huntsman, adding that a giant mask will rise above a fake ocean to represent the Haitian sea god Agwe.

Signature Productions spent about $40,000 on the production, which played on Broadway in the early '90s. And that was scaled down. A live band was supposed to perform the Caribbean music. Instead, musicians from Provo, Utah's the MT Pit were hired to record it.

"We're feeling the crunch of the economy," says Huntsman, a Las Vegas resident who works part time as a stucco contractor to pay his own bills.

The search for 12 cast members began last October.

"It's traditionally an African-American cast, and I was able to pull enough great performers in the community together," Huntsman says.

Rehearsals began in June.

"The music is great," Huntsman says, "and the story is simple yet poignant.

"It's a beautiful story of hope and it's just fun."

Picnic baskets, beverages and blankets are welcome at Super Summer productions. Chaise lounges and pets are not.

Contact reporter Corey Levitan at clevitan@reviewjournal.com or 702-383-0456.