Exuberant 'Once on this Island' Just Doesn't Connect

Early in "Once on this Island," presented the SpeakEasy Stage through April 16, Peli Naomi Woods steps forward to sing "Waiting for Life to Begin," one of the splendid songs in Stephen Flaherty and Lynn Ahrens' Caribbean-flavored score. It is her "wanting" song, and the amazing Ms. Woods delivers it with such ringing joy that you only hope what's to follow – a musical fable about a young Caribbean woman named Ti Moune – will match that exuberance.

But, under the direction of Pascale Florestal, the production of this 1991 Broadway hit (that was recently successfully revived) never hits that emotional sweet spot so inherent in the material. For all its exuberance and intimacy – the Roberts Studio Theater is configured in the round, with the cast breaking the fourth wall on numerous occasions – the emotional connection just isn't there. At times it tries too hard; at others it feels that the songs aren't well-served by the staging.

Take "The Human Heart," the gorgeous ballad that is sung to Ti Muone and the young man she loves, Daniel (Kenny Lee), which is superbly delivered by Christina Jones as Erzulie, the Goddess of Love. This being a fable, taken from a novel by "My Love, My Love: Or, The Peasant Girl," by Rosa Guy, the indigenous island gods are pivotal players. They also include Asaka, Mother of the Earth (Yewande Odetoyinbo); Agwe, God of Water (Davron S. Monroe); Erzulie, and Papa Ge, the Demon of Death (Malik Mitchell, who appears to have wandered in from "Hadestown" with his devilish portrayal). But when Jones serenades the couple, she does so from a perch above the stage, which mitigates the intimacy. Jones should be singing with them, not at them. The use of this balcony – a design misstep – is a distraction throughout.

But perhaps the biggest problem is the lack of chemistry between Woods and Lee, the wealthy playboy she saves from death after an automobile crash and with whom she falls in love. Lee has an expressive tenor and sings an enchanting "Some Girls," his sweet, if cutting, explanation on the ways of a world in which peasant girls do not marry wealthy gentlemen like himself, but become their mistresses. Too bad that they just make a connection, which makes the musical's bittersweet conclusion something of a letdown.

Still, there is so much to admire here, most notably the fluidly integrated choreography by Jazelynn Goudy, as well as its first-rate cast. For her part, Woods makes a sweet and affecting Ti Muone. With her crisp, powerful voice and ingratiating personality, she more than owns the role. If only she hit the right note with the talented Lee. Each member of the Gods defines their characters in broad, simple ways that work well, most notably the insinuating Mitchell. There are affecting turns by Anthony Pires Jr. and Lovely Hoffman as Ti Muone's adoptive parents. And as a child, Reagan Masso makes a playful Ti Muone, while Kira Troilo has a chilling moment as Daniel's dismissive fiancee.

Eric D. Diaz's setting – a house at the far end of the stage with a tree growing next to it that reaches up to the balcony – is colorful, though the space's limitations created issues that weren't fully worked out in the staging. Chelsea Kerl's costumes have personality in line with the characters; Aja M. Jackson's lighting smoothly captures the musical's many moods, which includes the dark storm at its opening.

The excellent musical direction, by David Freeman Coleman, makes one very good reason for seeing this production – the songs are beautifully sung, and are given a nice assist by transparent sound design (no small feat, considering the movement.)

At the heart of "Once on this Island" is a dark story of class distinctions based on racial prejudices, but a pivotal number – "The Sad Tale of the Beauxhommes," which explains this backstory – was muddled in execution, which is a problem with the storytelling. Throughout, director Florestal hits most of the right notes, but that crucial emotional bond just isn't there, and without it Ti Muone's story is a cautionary tale, not a touching one.

Despite appearing to be filled to the brim, this "Once on the Island" is a glass half-empty.

"Once on this Island" continues through April 16 at the Roberts Studio Theatre, Calderwood Pavilion, Boston Center for the Arts, 527 Tremont Street, Boston, MA. For more information, visit the SpeakEasy Stage website.