The musical Come From Away is an emotional rollercoaster. While the show takes place on the fateful day of 9/11, the thrust of the show is not on heartache and tears (even though there is some of that), but on inspiration and humanity.
The cast of Come From Away. Photo by Jonathan Steele.
Come From Away relates the true story of how a little used airfield in Gander, Newfoundland, Canada suddenly became the pit stop for dozens of commercial airlines when the United States airspace was closed because of the attacks. In aviation history Gander was the central refueling depot for planes crossing the Atlantic. With the advent of jet propulsion, the Gander locale became a footnote, until September 11 when the population of the small town mushroomed overnight from 9,000 to 16,000 residents. The musical relates how the townspeople and “plane people” reacted, adapted, and came together over a five-day period. It humanizes the events of 9/11 through personal stories, song and dance. The result is a show that is uplifting, funny, and forlorn. It is a joyous celebration of life and the human spirit even as the very fabric of our lives was upended.
Librettist Irene Sankoff and David Hein have crafted a well-structured narrative where the cast portrays a multitude of roles from stunned and shaken airline passengers to the average man and woman on the streets of Gander. The husband-and-wife team focus on the determination of everyone to make an unthinkable and untenable situation work. This optimistic attitude is carried throughout the show. Some would-be audience members might think any art form with 9/11 as the backdrop would be maudlin and depressing. But Sankoff and Hein’s book for the show is heartening and moving. Are there moments when the tissues come out? Sure, yet they are offset by humorous and tender moments that make you want to stand and cheer.
Dan Costello in Come From Away. Photo by Jonathan Steele.
In addition to their book, Sankoff and Hein, also wrote the music and lyrics, a mix of haunting and soul-searching compositions and exuberant melodies that joyfully reverberate throughout the theater. Tinged with the Irish roots prevalent in this northern Canadian province, they are almost all ensemble pieces. The songs are performed by a tight knit, boisterous band that would be welcome at any Emerald Isle drinking establishment.
Members of the cast of Come From Away. Photo by Jonathan Steele.
Director Todd L. Underwood does a superb job with the flow of the cast as they assemble from one scene to the next. While he keeps the pacing quick, he doesn’t rush the storyline, allowing more intimate scenes to play out. He also adeptly facilitates the transformation of the actors and actresses from one character to another. There is a good deal of logistics involved as performers are in constant motion moving around and restaging Starlet Jacobs’ minimal set pieces, which is a smart choice. Anything more elaborate would have lessened the pace of the show and tethered our imagination. Jessica Drayton’s projections, on the other hand, are distracting and unnecessary for this show. My only quibble with the direction is the substitution of the voice of President George Bush for one of the actors during his broadcast to the world soon after the devastation of 9/11. It is one of the emotional highpoints of the entire musical, and its impact was greatly lessened.
As choreographer, the dance numbers Underwood stages develop naturally within the plot. The dancing is buoyant and lively and reflects the down-to-earth nature of the town’s folk.
Miles Hanna in Come From Away. Photo by Jonathan Steele.
The ensemble cast is full of individuals you would find at any main street diner. They exude their own can-do spirit as they forcefully take hold of the material with a dynamism and drive that is heartfelt and genuine. Each of the performers play multiple characters and they provide skill and nuance to make each transformation work. While I could say something about each cast member, four consistently stood out. Mimi Bessette, who portrays, among others, Beulah, the levelheaded, problem-solving school administrator; Joseph Dellger, who’s main character is the unflappable mayor of Gander; Patric Steven Bovo, a business man who embraces his temporary surroundings, and Miles Hanna as the neurotic Bob.
Come From Away, an absorbing and moving musical that will leave you searching for words of praise, playing at the Ivoryton Playhouse through September 6. Click here for dates, times, and ticket information.
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