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* InspirationNod: To ''The Little Mermaid'', when Asaka says "A fish has got to learn to swim on land!"
** There's more. In one scene, Ti Moune has to wear painful shoes (referencing the Little Mermaid constantly feeling as if she is to be stabbed by daggers). Ti Moune is also asked to dance for Daniel and Andrea, referencing the mermaid serving as the prince's dancing slave.
** There is the penultimate scene, which brings the fairy tale full-circle, where [[spoiler: after Daniel betrayed her to marry Andrea, Ti Moune must kill Daniel with a dagger to escape her deal with Papa Ge, and she, of course, refuses, compelling her to drown herself.]]
** In the musical, [[spoiler: Ti Moune being reborn as a tree is meant to be the counterpart to becoming a "daughter of the air."]]


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* WholePlotReference: To ''The Little Mermaid''. There are also minor shout outs to it, such as when Asaka says "A fish has got to learn to swim on land!"
** There's more. In one scene, Ti Moune has to wear painful shoes (referencing the Little Mermaid constantly feeling as if she is to be stabbed by daggers). Ti Moune is also asked to dance for Daniel and Andrea, referencing the mermaid serving as the prince's dancing slave.
** There is the penultimate scene, which brings the fairy tale full-circle, where [[spoiler: after Daniel betrayed her to marry Andrea, Ti Moune must kill Daniel with a dagger to escape her deal with Papa Ge, and she, of course, refuses, compelling her to drown herself.]]
** In the musical, [[spoiler: Ti Moune being reborn as a tree is meant to be the counterpart to becoming a "daughter of the air."]]

Added: 780

Changed: 1

Removed: 774

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* InspirationNod: To ''The Little Mermaid'', when Asaka says "A fish has got to learn to swim on land!"
** There's more. In one scene, Ti Moune has to wear painful shoes (referencing the Little Mermaid constantly feeling as if she is to be stabbed by daggers). Ti Moune is also asked to dance for Daniel and Andrea, referencing the mermaid serving as the prince's dancing slave.
** There is the penultimate scene, which brings the fairy tale full-circle, where [[spoiler: after Daniel betrayed her to marry Andrea, Ti Moune must kill Daniel with a dagger to escape her deal with Papa Ge, and she, of course, refuses, compelling her to drown herself.]]
** In the musical, [[spoiler: Ti Moune being reborn as a tree is meant to be the counterpart to becoming a "daughter of the air."]]



* JerkWithAHeartOfGold: Despite it all, [[spoiler: Asaka hears and protects Julian on his journey as well as taking Ti Moune under her wing in "Mama Will Provide", Agwe recognizes and spares Ti Moune due to her prayers in "Rain", Erzulie blesses Ti Moune and Daniel's love in "Human Heart" and is the first to speak up on Ti Moune's behalf during the Gods' quarrel after "Waiting For Life", and all of the Gods, even [[EveryoneHasStandards Papa Ge]], are touched and weep for Ti Moune after her sacrifice for Daniel, and work together to spare her that fate]]

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* JerkWithAHeartOfGold: Despite it all, [[spoiler: Asaka hears and protects Julian on his journey as well as taking Ti Moune under her wing in "Mama Will Provide", Agwe recognizes and spares Ti Moune due to her prayers in "Rain", Erzulie blesses Ti Moune and Daniel's love in "Human Heart" and is the first to speak up on Ti Moune's behalf during the Gods' quarrel after "Waiting For Life", and all of the Gods, even [[EveryoneHasStandards Papa Ge]], are touched and weep for Ti Moune after her sacrifice for Daniel, and work together to spare her that fate]]fate.]]



* ShoutOut: To ''The Little Mermaid'', when Asaka says "A fish has got to learn to swim on land!"
** There's more. In one scene, Ti Moune has to wear painful shoes (referencing the Little Mermaid constantly feeling as if she is to be stabbed by daggers). Ti Moune is also asked to dance for Daniel and Andrea, referencing the mermaid serving as the prince's dancing slave.
** There is the penultimate scene, which brings the fairy tale full-circle, where [[spoiler: after Daniel betrayed her to marry Andrea, Ti Moune must kill Daniel with a dagger to escape her deal with Papa Ge, and she, of course, refuses, compelling her to drown herself.]]
** In the musical, [[spoiler: Ti Moune being reborn as a tree is meant to be the counterpart to becoming a "daughter of the air."]]
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* VillainSong: Papa Ge's verses in "Forever Yours" and its DarkReprise.
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* DarkReprise: "Pray" is in itself something of a dark reprise (it's based in the melody of "We Dance" played in a minor key), and "Forever Yours" and "The Human Heart" both get dark reprises at the end.

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* DarkReprise: "Pray" is in itself something of a dark reprise (it's based in the melody of "We Dance" played in a minor key), [[{{Tonality}} key]]), and "Forever Yours" and "The Human Heart" both get dark reprises at the end.
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Updating


* CrossCastRole: Asaka, while still a female character, is portrayed by a male actor in the revival. The idea came about when her actor, male soprano Alex Newell, [[https://deadline.com/2018/06/tony-awards-watch-once-on-this-island-michael-arden-clint-ramos-costume-design-1202402558/ jokingly told]] director Michael Arden that he wanted to play the role. After giving it some thought, Arden decided to make it so.

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* CrossCastRole: Asaka, while still a female character, is portrayed by a male actor in the revival. The idea came about when her actor, then male soprano Alex Newell, Newell[[note]]Newell would later identify as non-binary after this production[[/note]] [[https://deadline.com/2018/06/tony-awards-watch-once-on-this-island-michael-arden-clint-ramos-costume-design-1202402558/ jokingly told]] director Michael Arden that he they wanted to play the role. After giving it some thought, Arden decided to make it so.
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trope about IU colorism now


* {{Bowdlerise}}: In order to make the junior version more accessible to middle and high school students, the racial divide between the ButNotTooBlack rich and the very dark-skinned poor is completely removed, instead setting it up as an entirely class-based divide (although some more socially-conscious junior productions have been known to cast the show accordingly anyway, leaving the racial divide as an implicit element that savvy viewers will pick up on even though they're not outright saying it out loud). The song relating to the history of Daniel's family is removed from the junior version because of this tension (the progenitor of his family was the result of [[SonOfAWhore an affair between a French planter and a peasant woman]]). However, the "Some Girls" song is also cut, resulting to Daniel having ''virtually no singing'' at all.

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* {{Bowdlerise}}: In order to make the junior version more accessible to middle and high school students, the racial divide between the ButNotTooBlack light-skinned rich and the very dark-skinned poor is completely removed, instead setting it up as an entirely class-based divide (although some more socially-conscious junior productions have been known to cast the show accordingly anyway, leaving the racial divide as an implicit element that savvy viewers will pick up on even though they're not outright saying it out loud). The song relating to the history of Daniel's family is removed from the junior version because of this tension (the progenitor of his family was the result of [[SonOfAWhore an affair between a French planter and a peasant woman]]). However, the "Some Girls" song is also cut, resulting to Daniel having ''virtually no singing'' at all.



* ButNotTooBlack: Daniel and the rest of the Grand Homme. Some productions will actually cast white actors as the Grand Homme instead, to further illustrate the divide between them and the peasants, which gives an odd juxtaposition to the "coffee mixed with cream" line.

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* ButNotTooBlack: Daniel and the rest of the Grand Homme.Homme are light-skinned, compared to the darker peasants that face colorism on account of their skintone. Some productions will actually cast white actors as the Grand Homme instead, to further illustrate the divide between them and the peasants, which gives an odd juxtaposition to the "coffee mixed with cream" line.
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None


* {{Bowdlerise}}: In order to make the junior version more accessible to middle and high school students, the racial divide between the ButNotTooBlack rich and the very dark-skinned poor is completely removed. The song relating to the history of Daniel's family is removed from the junior version because of this tension (the progenitor of his family was the result of [[SonOfAWhore an affair between a French planter and a peasant woman]]). However, the "Some Girls" song is also cut, resulting to Daniel having ''virtually no singing'' at all.

to:

* {{Bowdlerise}}: In order to make the junior version more accessible to middle and high school students, the racial divide between the ButNotTooBlack rich and the very dark-skinned poor is completely removed.removed, instead setting it up as an entirely class-based divide (although some more socially-conscious junior productions have been known to cast the show accordingly anyway, leaving the racial divide as an implicit element that savvy viewers will pick up on even though they're not outright saying it out loud). The song relating to the history of Daniel's family is removed from the junior version because of this tension (the progenitor of his family was the result of [[SonOfAWhore an affair between a French planter and a peasant woman]]). However, the "Some Girls" song is also cut, resulting to Daniel having ''virtually no singing'' at all.
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None


** JerkWithAHeartOfGold: Despite it all, [[spoiler: Asaka hears and protects Julian on his journey as well as taking Ti Moune under her wing in "Mama Will Provide", Agwe recognizes and spares Ti Moune due to her prayers in "Rain", Erzulie blesses Ti Moune and Daniel's love in "Human Heart" and is the first to speak up on Ti Moune's behalf during the Gods' quarrel after "Waiting For Life", and all of the Gods, even [[EveryoneHasStandards Papa Ge]], are touched and weep for Ti Moune after her sacrifice for Daniel, and work together to spare her that fate]]

to:

** * JerkWithAHeartOfGold: Despite it all, [[spoiler: Asaka hears and protects Julian on his journey as well as taking Ti Moune under her wing in "Mama Will Provide", Agwe recognizes and spares Ti Moune due to her prayers in "Rain", Erzulie blesses Ti Moune and Daniel's love in "Human Heart" and is the first to speak up on Ti Moune's behalf during the Gods' quarrel after "Waiting For Life", and all of the Gods, even [[EveryoneHasStandards Papa Ge]], are touched and weep for Ti Moune after her sacrifice for Daniel, and work together to spare her that fate]]
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None


* BorrowinSamedi: Papa Ge is a death loa, who is mostly seen as a skeleton during the show. His name refers to the [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gu%C3%A9d%C3%A9 Guédé]] family of loa (the ones who rule over death and fertility), which Baron Samedi is the head of.

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* BorrowinSamedi: Papa Ge is a death loa, who is mostly seen as a skeleton during the show. His name refers to the [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gu%C3%A9d%C3%A9 org/wiki/Guede Guédé]] family of loa (the ones who rule over death and fertility), which Baron Samedi is the head of.
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None


* ButNotTooBlack: Daniel and the rest of the Grand Homme.

to:

* ButNotTooBlack: Daniel and the rest of the Grand Homme. Some productions will actually cast white actors as the Grand Homme instead, to further illustrate the divide between them and the peasants, which gives an odd juxtaposition to the "coffee mixed with cream" line.
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None


* GenderFlip: In the 2017 Broadway revival, Papa Ge is portrayed by an actress (she's still credited as ''Papa'' Ge, however).

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* GenderFlip: In the 2017 Broadway revival, Papa Ge is portrayed by an actress a woman (she's still credited as ''Papa'' Ge, however).



* PetTheDog: Depending on how Andrea's actress plays it. Despite trying to lure Ti Moune to humiliate herself initially, Andrea does compliment Ti Moune's dancing and thanks her for healing Daniel, and sometimes she might genuinely enjoy Ti Moune's dancing. Some actresses portray Andrea as feeling awful and guilty that Ti Moune was not informed of Daniel's engagement and tries to break the news to her in the kindest way.

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* PetTheDog: Depending on how Andrea's actress actor plays it. Despite trying to lure Ti Moune to humiliate herself initially, Andrea does compliment Ti Moune's dancing and thanks her for healing Daniel, and sometimes she might genuinely enjoy Ti Moune's dancing. Some actresses actors portray Andrea as feeling awful and guilty that Ti Moune was not informed of Daniel's engagement and tries to break the news to her in the kindest way.
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None

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* GracefulLoser: Papa Ge, who despite having been cruel and smug throughout the entirety of the story, is specifically mentioned as being "gentle" as he carries [[spoiler:Ti Moune's corpse to shore after her suicide,]] even though he has resoundingly lost his bet with Erzulie.
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On July 30, 2020, it was [[https://www.playbill.com/article/film-adaptation-of-once-on-this-island-in-the-works-at-disney announced]] that Creator/DisneyPlus would adapt the musical into a film. Jocelyn Bioh will write the screenplay, Wanuri Kahiu will direct, and Marc Platt will produce.
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* AdaptationNameChange: Downplayed. In the book, "Ti Moune" is more of a title or form of address for a young girl/woman, and the main character is usually referred to as Désirée. Andrea's last name is also different.
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--> "The only thing that will save the boy's life is ''ME".''

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--> "The only thing that will save the boy's life is ''ME".''''ME."''



-->Now what can he want with a woman like that,
-->Blacker than coal and low as dirt?
-->He could have the world but takes a peasant!
-->Perhaps his brain was hurt!

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-->Now -->''Now what can he want with a woman like that,
-->Blacker
that,''
-->''Blacker
than coal and low as dirt?
-->He
dirt?''
-->''He
could have the world but takes a peasant!
-->Perhaps
peasant!''
-->''Perhaps
his brain was hurt!hurt!''
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[[caption-width-right:231:"Choose your dreams with care, Ti Moune..."]]

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[[caption-width-right:231:"Choose [[caption-width-right:231:''"Choose your dreams with care, Ti Moune..."]]"'']]



--> "The only thing that will save the boy's life is ''ME''".

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--> "The only thing that will save the boy's life is ''ME''".''ME".''
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Might not qualify as a hand wave


* HandWave: "Some Say" does this with how Ti Moune managed to get into Daniel's room, mentioning various possible explanations and then saying that no one knows what actually happened.
-->Some say she scrubbed the floors 'til she learned where he was kept
-->Some say she climbed a vine to the window where he slept
-->Some say the gods just lifted her up and placed her where he lay
-->Well, no one knows how the real truth goes...
-->But that's what some say
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* HandWave: "Some Say" does this with how Ti Moune managed to get into Daniel's room, mentioning various possible explanations and then saying that no one knows what actually happened.
-->Some say she scrubbed the floors 'til she learned where he was kept
-->Some say she climbed a vine to the window where he slept
-->Some say the gods just lifted her up and placed her where he lay
-->Well, no one knows how the real truth goes...
-->But that's what some say
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* SlobsVsSnobs: The peasants live in poverty and are constantly at the mercy of the elements, while the ''Grand Hommes'' look down on them.

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* SlobsVsSnobs: The peasants live in poverty and are constantly at the mercy of the elements, while the ''Grand Hommes'' live in luxury and look down on them.
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* SlobsVsSnobs: The peasants live in poverty and are constantly at the mercy of the elements, while the ''Grand Hommes'' live in luxury and look down on Ti Moune not only for her darker skin but her clothes, her religion and her way of dancing.
-->'''Andrea''': Some girls are saying
-->She's simple as any child,
-->Barefoot and praying
-->And running the halls quite wild!

to:

* SlobsVsSnobs: The peasants live in poverty and are constantly at the mercy of the elements, while the ''Grand Hommes'' live in luxury and look down on Ti Moune not only for her darker skin them.
-->Now what can he want with a woman like that,
-->Blacker than coal and low as dirt?
-->He could have the world
but her clothes, her religion and her way of dancing.
-->'''Andrea''': Some girls are saying
-->She's simple as any child,
-->Barefoot and praying
-->And running the halls quite wild!
takes a peasant!
-->Perhaps his brain was hurt!
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None


* SlobsVsSnobs: The peasants live in poverty and are constantly at the mercy of the elements, while the ''Grand Hommes'' live in luxury and look down on Ti Moune not only for her darker skin but her clothes, her religion and her way of dancing

to:

* SlobsVsSnobs: The peasants live in poverty and are constantly at the mercy of the elements, while the ''Grand Hommes'' live in luxury and look down on Ti Moune not only for her darker skin but her clothes, her religion and her way of dancingdancing.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None


* SlobsVsSnobs: The peasants live in poverty and are constantly at the mercy of the elements, while the ''Grand Hommes'' live in luxury, drive expensive cars and hold lavish dances.
-->'''Grand Hommes''': How fine our clothes are!
--> How fast we drive!
--> We dance at parties!
-->'''Peasants''': While we are dancing just to stay alive!

to:

* SlobsVsSnobs: The peasants live in poverty and are constantly at the mercy of the elements, while the ''Grand Hommes'' live in luxury, drive expensive cars luxury and hold lavish dances.
-->'''Grand Hommes''': How fine our clothes are!
--> How fast we drive!
--> We dance at parties!
-->'''Peasants''': While we
look down on Ti Moune not only for her darker skin but her clothes, her religion and her way of dancing
-->'''Andrea''': Some girls
are dancing just to stay alive!saying
-->She's simple as any child,
-->Barefoot and praying
-->And running the halls quite wild!
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None

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* FramingDevice: The show is framed as a story that a group of peasants tell to calm a little girl down during a storm. The storytellers take the roles of the characters in the story, and so does the little girl, who plays the part of Ti Moune as a child.


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* SlobsVsSnobs: The peasants live in poverty and are constantly at the mercy of the elements, while the ''Grand Hommes'' live in luxury, drive expensive cars and hold lavish dances.
-->'''Grand Hommes''': How fine our clothes are!
--> How fast we drive!
--> We dance at parties!
-->'''Peasants''': While we are dancing just to stay alive!
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None

Added DiffLines:

* UnreliableNarrator: Discussed in "Some Say," where the storytellers admit that "no one knows how the real truth goes" when it comes to the details of the story they're telling.
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* EvilLaugh: Papa Ge at the end of "Forever Yours."
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* {{Leitmotif}}: The theme of the opening prayer to the gods (see page quote) turns up in a lot of other numbers, most memorably in a minor-key version in "Pray."

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* {{Leitmotif}}: The theme of the opening prayer to the gods (see page quote) turns up recurs throughout the score in a lot of other numbers, different forms, most memorably in a minor-key version in "Pray."
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None

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* {{Leitmotif}}: The theme of the opening prayer to the gods (see page quote) turns up in a lot of other numbers, most memorably in a minor-key version in "Pray."
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None

Added DiffLines:

* BorrowinSamedi: Papa Ge is a death loa, who is mostly seen as a skeleton during the show. His name refers to the [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gu%C3%A9d%C3%A9 Guédé]] family of loa (the ones who rule over death and fertility), which Baron Samedi is the head of.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None


* MeaningfulAppearance: In the revival, all the gods are wearing debris and trash to symbolically honor the hurricane victims in Haiti and the Caribbean. A close eye will spot Asaka wearing a large tablecloth for a dress, Erzulie's crown being made of wires and USB cords and her belt being a stethoscope, Agwe's beard being made of nets and plastic bags, and Papa Ge's scales are constructed from soda cans.

to:

* MeaningfulAppearance: In the revival, all the gods are wearing debris and trash to symbolically honor the hurricane victims in Haiti and the Caribbean. A close eye will spot Asaka wearing a large tablecloth for a dress, Erzulie's crown being made of wires and USB cords and her belt being a stethoscope, stethoscope (a tribute to the volunteer nurses who provide health care for victims), Agwe's beard being made of nets and plastic bags, and Papa Ge's scales are constructed from soda cans.

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