Once on This Island

It is a rainy night and the storytellers have gathered to comfort a little girl afraid of the coming storm. They set the scene: an island known as “the Jewel of the Antilles” where the land is split in two between the dark-skinned peasants and the lighter-skinned elite. They introduce the four Gods (Asaka, goddess of the Earth; Agwe, god of Water; Erzulie, goddess of love; and Papa Ge, demon of death) who are worshiped by the islanders through the expression of dance ("Prologue/We Dance").

They begin to tell the story of Ti Moune, an orphan lost and alone in a terrible storm. Before the flood waters could overtakethe girl, the Gods chose to save her and placed her safely in a tall tree. Once the storm subsided, Mama Euralie and Tonton Julian were walking and heard the cries of the young girl. They decide to take the girl in as their own and lovingly name her Ti Moune, knowing the girl was saved for a reason ("One Small Girl").

Ti Moune grows up to be a beautiful