Once on This Island: In Concert – ★★★☆☆
Once on This Island returned to the stage for one night only at the iconic Theatre Royal Drury Lane, in a 90-minute concert staging of the musical by Lynn Ahrens and Stephen Flaherty. First premiering in 1990, and later revived on Broadway in 2017 (winning the Tony Award for Best Musical Revival) the 2026 concert staging marks the musical’s latest return to the stage. This concert featured Alex Newell (Shucked) reprising their role as Asaka, alongside a strong cast including Marisha Wallace, Cedric Neal, Dujonna Gift and Jamael Westman.
The story centres on Ti Moune (Dujonna Gift) a fearless peasant girl who, after being orphaned in a devastating flood sent by the Gods, is rescued and raised by Mama Euralie (Wendy Mae Brown) and Tonton Julian (Ako Mitchell). When Daniel (Jamael Westman) crashes into her village following an accident, Ti Moune falls deeply in love. He comes from a world of wealth and status entirely separate from her own, but she holds firmly to the belief that love can overcome all barriers, and with this conviction embarks on a journey to find him again on the other side of the island. With the Gods each pursuing their own motives, the narrative explores love, sacrifice, fate, and the forces that shape individual destiny.
Dujonna Gift’s portrayal of Ti Moune is a highlight of the evening. She brings sincerity and emotional clarity to the role, grounding the character’s hope and determination. Her vocal performance is striking, filling the auditorium with warmth and strength, and guiding the audience through Ti Moune’s emotional arc with assurance.
The ensemble also merits recognition, delivering consistently strong harmonies and a vivid sense of community on stage. Their collective energy, combined with the presence of the onstage band, provides a rich live musicality that enhances the concert format and sustains momentum throughout.
What distinguishes Once on This Island is its engagement with the classist, racist and colourist divisions within the island’s society. Ti Moune is rejected within Daniel’s world not only because of her social status, but also because of her skin, which is described as “as dark as coal” in contrast to the lighter-skinned, wealthier elite. A dynamic that reflects broader structures that persist both within theatre and wider society.
As a concert staging, however, the production inevitably lacks the full visual and physical storytelling of a fully realised production. The presentation may have benefited from staging in the round, or from additional scenic elements to more firmly situate the audience within the Caribbean setting. At a swift 90 minutes, there is also limited time for deeper world-building; some of the story’s most monumental emotional beats pass more quickly than they might in a full production, without the space to fully land.
That said, as a one-night concert, Once on This Island does exactly what it sets out to do. It’s vibrant, entertaining, and moving (heads were visibly bobbing in the audience!). Should this production move toward a longer run, further development would allow for a richer exploration of its themes, ensuring that its most important moments resonate with the full weight they deserve.
★★★☆☆
By Shore Delano