The choreography. So good! I can’t write anything about the new Children’s Musical Theaterworks production of “Once On This Island” without first mentioning the wonderful dancing. Not only are Joshua Montgomery’s smooth, Caribbean-infused moves as graceful and hypnotic as a gently swaying palm tree, the dancers themselves are impressive. I love their rhythms, their physical technique, and, more than anything, their togetherness, both in movement and in spirit — they dance as if they’re part of a greater whole.
“Once On This Island,” which runs through July 22 at the Fresno Veterans Memorial Auditorium, is the “bigger kids” show this summer for CMT. (And, indeed, the age of the cast members spill into their early 20s.) I don’t write traditional reviews of CMT productions (other than critiquing the adult creative team), but I often share some of the things I really liked. Here are five highlights of this clever and moving production:
1.
The ambiance. From the moment you walk into the theater, the place has an island vibe. Clotheslines with vibrant fabrics criss-cross above the heads of the audience. Two friendly palm trees on either side of the stage frame the performance space. Once the play begins, Dan Aldape’s cheerful and vivid lighting design — all the colors of shaved ice and more — cast a warm glow. (Room for improvement: the use of follow spots, which clunk up what is otherwise a smooth and sophisticated design.) Aldape’s set is clever and often quite sumptuous. The market scene outside the Hotel Beauxhomme in the second act, with street vendors working their stalls, was one of my favorite tableaux.
