By Joe Stead www.steadstylechicago.com

The 1990 musical "Once on this Island" was in many ways the antithesis of most of its Broadway rivals.  It offered no special effects, no helicopters, hydraulics or crashing chandeliers, no lavish scenery or costumes, and a comparatively small cast.  The show originated Off Broadway rather than London and it wasn't even based on an old movie.  And to top it off there were no big name stars, just a talented ensemble of African American storytellers putting a distinctly Caribbean twist on Hans Christian Anderson's "The Little Mermaid".  Its 469 performance run was hardly record-shattering, but respectable enough in the "bigger is better" age of Broadway.  And in Librettist/Lyricist Lynn Ahrens and Composer Stephen Flaherty, it introduced a distinctive new team who would go on to produce one of the last great musicals of the 20th Century, "Ragtime".

One might question the wisdom of adding another revival of this popular show, which was just seen in Chicago last year in a more innovative production by Porchlight Theatre, to the Marriott Theatre's "play it safe" season of Chicagoland re-runs.  As this year's token economy size offering, there are still plenty of charms to be found on this modest 90-minute "Island".  Unlike David H. Bell's recent revisionist take on "Fiddler on the Roof," the Director/Choreographer plays it completely by the book here.  And when you have a generally strong set of vocalists to bring Ahrens and Flaherty's tropical flavored score to life, you don't need a whole lot more.

Playing a Goddess seems to come second nature to the divine Melody Betts, whose thrilling, full-voiced "Mama Will Provide" is the showstopper of the evening.  Melinda Wakefield Alberty's spellbinding "The Human Heart" is likewise ravishing.  And in her second Marriott appearance, the very pretty Chasten Harmon acts her heart out as the lovelorn but courageous peasant Ti Moune.

The musical is drenched in folklore and superstition as a group of storytellers bring Ti Moune's tale to life.  We see the young orphan saved from certain death in a hurricane, who repays the Gods' act of generosity by caring for (and eventually falling in love with) an injured aristocrat.  Prejudices and fate collide as love goes head to head with death.  The young man, Daniel, is the descendent of a tragically mixed lineage of a wealthy white Frenchman and a black peasant mother.  It is thus the story of "two different worlds never meant to meet" and a love story in which love vows to conquer death.

Although the musical is based on the novel "My Love, My Love" by Rosa Guy, it is rooted in both Hans Christian Anderson and the folklore handed down from generation to generation.  At the Marriott, that story is told simply and melodically with a lot of heart.  Would that more musicals these days could boast the same. "Once on this Island" plays through August 29, 2010 at the Marriott Theatre, located at 10 Marriott Drive in Lincolnshire.  The show runs 90 minutes with no intermission.  Tickets range from $35 to $48, with performances Wednesday through Sunday.  Call 847-634-0200 or visit www.marriotttheatre.com.  For more information on this show, please visit the Theatre In Chicago Once on this Island page.