The storytellers of a small Caribbean island relate to us this touching tale of Ti Moune, a young girl in the prime of her life, who finds herself forced to make this choice between loving and living. Adapted from Hans Christian Andersen’s The Little Mermaid, this story is set on a French-ruled island where a young peasant native falls in love with a young French aristocrat whom she saves from a car accident – an accident orchestrated by the island gods to put the orphan Ti Moune’s love to the ultimate test.

The story of this test is filled with mesmerizing and entertaining Caribbean rhythms by Stephen Flaherty. Lynn Ahrens’s poetic lyrics capture the drama, passion, and zest for life of Rosa Guy’s novel My Love, My Love on which the musical is based.

Director Kristen Caesar had wanted to put the show on for years, but was waiting until she had the right group of talented kids to tell the story. After her successful Alice in Concert earlier this summer, she realized that this year was her opportunity. Culled from that cast and some earlier Kidz Theater productions, Kristen put this show together in just three weeks. Amazingly, after only six rehearsals and two dress rehearsals, the cast of this first Spotlight Youth show (“spotlighting” some of the most talented kids in youth theatre) put on a surprisingly polished production with a number of exceptional voices that make hearing the story all the more enjoyable.

Those exceptional singers include 11-year-old Ashley Nicole Fisher as Ti Moune whose lovely voice and large eyes express so much compassion. Brianna Lopez belts out an energizing Mama Will Provide to end the first act on a high note. Ti Moune’s lover Daniel (Mark Guiducci) shares a tender duet with Ashley Nicole Fisher in Forever Yours – until sly demon of Death Papa Ge (Lucas Kelly) joins in with his engagingly wicked version of Forever Yours. Agwe, god of Water (Drew Hackney) makes that scene all possible by literally singing up a storm with his captivating song Rain. As the beautiful goddess of Love, Aubrey Kelley counters the darker songs of Water and Death with her genuinely warm Part of the Human Heart. Also providing heartfelt warmth are Ti Moune’s adoptive parents played tenderly by Jessica DeKoekKoek and Jason Dino. Brooke McKinney fully transforms from the confused but happy Alice in Alice in Concert to the jealous and snooty Andrea who is promised to Daniel. And Ashley Avan lends her uniquely adorable voice as the Young Ti Moune, getting going the joyous number A Part of Us that displays the entire ensemble’s extraordinary singing talent.