Billed as "the Caribbean musical that rocked London'' and hailed by the critics there and in New York ("an absolutely joyful musical''), `Once On This Island' has now been staged by the Jabulani Repertory Company.

With music by Stephen Flaherty and book and lyrics by Lynn Ahrens, this ambitious local production has called on the talents of many specialists -- both onstage and behind the scenes.

Months before the cast of 11 were assembled for their first rehearsals, director Patricia Pogson was conferring with and putting in place, the diverse collection of people who would ensure the musical's success.

One of those was Misha Wade, who not only appears as Erzulie in the cast, but has also acted as voice coach and assisted Grant Williams as musical director.

Of `Once On This Island', she says, "I think this will be a very successful show for Bermuda. It's a wonderful musical, with such an innocent story line and incredible music. I suppose you could say that my job was to interpret what Grant had done, and cope with re-arrangements or cuts in the score. Then, as voice coach, I would help the cast with their breathing -- how to sing and dance at the same time, and other technical points. I also helped them improve pronunciation and enunciation of the text.'' An American, Misha Wade is married to Gregory Wade, who is the show's technical director, and with her seven-year old daughter, Ebony, also scoring a success as a member of the cast, `Once Upon This Island' has become quite a family affair for the Wades.

Misha Wade brings an impressive professional background to this production.

After graduating from Davidson College in North Carolina, she obtained her Masters in Vocal Performance from the University of Cincinnati Conservatory of Music. She recently represented Bermuda, and was named winner of the Amateur Night at the famed Apollo Theatre in New York, and has appeared as Dorothy in the touring production of `The Wiz', as well as in several productions of `Dream Girls'. When she was at Davidson, she played the leading role in the musical, `Kiss Me Kate' -- the only black in an all-white cast. In movies, she appeared in `The Colour Purple' and `Ashes' with Bernie Dunlap.

She first gained public attention here in October, when she appeared with Two Islands Productions in the spectacular `Broadway in Bermuda'.

"That was a real thrill for me, because I made a lot of contacts!'' In the meantime, though, she and her husband, who is a teacher by profession, decided to come to Bermuda. "I met Pat (Pogson) through him, they've been friends for years. She called me up and asked me to take the part of Erzulie and to do the vocal coaching.'' Accustomed to working in the professional theatre, Ms Wade admits she found it "odd'' to spend three months in rehearsal. "In New York we only rehearse six to eight weeks -- if we're lucky! But of course, people have day jobs here, so it is quite a different situation -- that was one of the things I've had to adjust to.'' In fact, she admits, the difference between working here (she also sings regularly with Grant Williams at Grotto Bay) is the brutally competitive nature of showbiz in New York. "The standards are so high, you have to be very, very competitive, or you don't have a hope of surviving. The good thing about that is that it makes you work very, very hard!'' She is very proud of her daughter's performance in the musical who, she agrees is probably going to follow in her mother's footsteps. "My mother noticed at a very early age that I wanted to sing and she put me in a youth theatre, so I was a `star' in my own home town! She was very supportive and she flew over from North Carolina to see all three opening shows. We are all so proud of Ebony. I have been taking her to my voice classes which I teach for Pat Pogson at Black Box Productions. Greg and I are there each night with her, and we feel she is learning a lot -- she wants to do commercials now!'' As for Bermuda generally, Ms Wade believes there is a lot of talent here.

"But there has to be a venue to develop that talent and to provide a support system. At the moment, there is very little going on to help young people develop what talent they have.'' Musical director Grant Williams, who describes `Once On This Island' as "the sound of Broadway with a Caribbean mix'', has worked for about a year on the show. "We didn't have a score, so I had to work from a cassette from the show in London.'' In his computerised studio in Paget, he worked painstakingly to achieve the original sounds. A musician himself who plays keyboards and drum board and sings with Misha Wade at various hotel and club venues, Mr. Williams spent 12 years in New York before returning here about five years ago.

"I signed a contract with Columbia records, singing as a duo called Voyeur, and I produced it. I was fortunate enough to work with people like Luther Vandross, behind the scenes, so I learnt how a show is actually put together.'' He has known Patricia Pogson "for years'' and first worked for her when she directed `One Mo' Time' for Jabulani last year. "I've also known Dusty Hind (producer) for a long time and have worked with him on jingles and ads for his company. I think they have done extremely well to do this show in Bermuda.'' At the moment, he says, he and Misha Wade are working on an album together, which they hope to produce themselves.

The choreography of `Once On This Island' has been entrusted to Wanda Maxwell, a graduate of the Alvin Ailey Dance School.

This is her first major work since she returned to Bermuda: "I have really enjoyed it. The dancing is a mix of Caribbean and African styles.'' She says her inspiration comes a work by the great Katherine Dunham, the first dancer and choreographer to place black dance on the American theatre map.

"She did a piece called Yhonbulu, a ritual dance based on the gods and spirits from Haiti, and `Once On This Island' is rather in that vein.'' Ms Maxwell, who studied with Conchita Ming and Barbara Frith at the Jackson School of Dance and was a member of the Follies at the Southampton Princess in 1976 and '77 and again in 1989, won a scholarship to the Ailey School. In exchange for classes, she worked as a receptionist at the school, and after two years, graduated with a certification course. She concentrated on production besides dancing and says she also enjoyed the opportunity to learn about stage management. She also studied music, composition and voice.

"During my last six months, I went to the Broadway Dance Centre in New York, and when I came back to Bermuda in 1993, I danced in the very last Follies show.'' Since her return, she has been teaching for Black Box Productions and has choreographed pieces for the annual Road Show. "I have also formed a group called Bermuda's Finest Dancers and we hope to perform next year on a regular basis, as we are all ex-Follies and the group is geared to tourists.'' While she was with Ailey, Ms Maxwell was part of a student performance group which visited schools and colleges in the New York and Connecticut areas.

"They did a lot of spiritual stuff and it was very popular. We got wonderful reviews. I would like to do some spiritual, liturgical dances for the churches here.'' She, too, has known Patricia Pogson for many years: "In fact, we grew up together, we're both `Happy Valley Girls'. At one point, just before I went away, I had thought about giving up dancing, and she wouldn't let me. It's a good job I didn't!'' Jabulani Reperoty Company's production of `Once On This Island' will be performed in the Gazebo Room of the Hamilton Princess tomorrow, December 14 through to Saturday, December 16.

The cast includes Khalilah Smith, Denise Whitter, Danjou Anderson, Misha Wade, Ginea Edwards, Daren Herbert, Alan Smith, Lisa Young, Ebony Wade, Kenith May and Marvin Ford.

Showtime is at 9.15 p.m. (doors open at 8.45) and tickets at $25 are available in advance from the Princess (telephone 295-3000).

`ONCE ON THIS ISLAND' -- Working together to assist director Patricia Pogson in bringing the new Caribbean musical to the Bermuda stage are (left to right) Misha Wade, vocal coach (she is also in the cast), Grant Williams, musical director and Wanda Maxwell, choreographer.

`ONCE ON THIS ISLAND' -- Working together to assist director Patricia Pogson in bringing the new Caribbean musical to the Bermuda stage are (left to right) Misha Wade, vocal coach (she is also in the cast), Grant Williams, musical director and Wanda Maxwell, choreographer.