Love Conquers All on this Island

Story appeared in the 2019 issue of QMS Connections Magazine.

BY HAYLEY PICARD, COMMUNICATIONS MANAGER

For generations, stories have been passed down to teach valuable lessons about life, love, pain, and hope. Few do this better than Once On This Island Jr., the simple tale of Ti Moune, the peasant girl whose love for a boy from the wealthy side of the island takes her on a journey through all of life’s experiences and more, ultimately proving that the power of love is greater than prejudice and fear.

Director Tilly Lorence admits that selecting the style of a sung-through musical such as Once On This Island Jr. was a risk, but one she was ready to take with the right cast. “Since I began teaching theatre 15 years ago, I have waited for the right group of young actors to perform this challenging play,” she says. “This was an advanced musical for children in Grades 4–7 as it had many working components and the cast was large—with over 30 actors and crew!”

With a story that places a microscope on the topics of discrimination, racism, and social class segregation, Once On This Island Jr. is more relevant today than ever. “The deeper message of redemption through love provides us with hope for the future,” shares Lorence. “Once On This Island Jr. reminds us how community can truly come together through story.”

For Grade 6 student, Peter Dryden (Daniel/Storyteller), acting in a drama production of this size was a new experience. “I just wanted to try it for fun and landed one of the lead roles,” he says. “It was surprising to me and even though I don’t like singing all that much, I decided to keep going with it. I thought it was really fun, but it took a lot of extra-curricular time and hard work.”

Grade 4 student, Rowan Picard (Storyteller), agrees that being part of the cast was a highlight for her. “Being part of Once On This Island Jr. was great,” shares Picard. “We were challenged by the musical script and dancing, so we improved a lot of skills that we can use later in life, such as working well on a team.”

Performing to sold-out audiences every evening, the hard-working cast successfully sent each person out into the night ruminating on the topics of classism, racism, and female subjugation. Heavy topics, yet the contagious musical score was the perfect carrier for everyone to willingly consider ways to disrupt these negative social forces, so that ultimately, love truly can conquer all things.