“A life-affirming musical about the importance of community.”
Somehow ‘Come From Away’ has managed to evade me since it opened on Broadway in 2017, despite me being a massive musical theatre fan. Hearing only positive things from others who had seen it, I was thrilled to be reviewing the show for its Manchester debut at the Lowry Lyric theatre.
I am pleased to say that it exceeded every one of my expectations. Set in the wake of the events of 9/11, ‘Come From Away’ tells the story of the remote Canadian island of Gander, and the community that banded together to welcome thirty eight grounded planes after the closing of the American airspace — around 7000 people from around the world. It is a vital exploration of community spirit and kindness; the idea that everyone has a story, and what a tragedy it is when those stories are cut short. It’s the ultimate Christmas show you didn’t know you needed.
What is most impressive writers about Irene Sankoff and David Hein’s production is its ensemble cast, portraying both the grounded ‘plane people’ and the Gander residents. At times it felt as though there were at least thirty actors onstage, where in reality there were only twelve, working together seamlessly throughout. It is simultaneously casual and slick, with the cast driving the story forward from the minute the lights go down. There is no wasted time. You forget that you’re watching a musical, and the preconceptions that comes alongside that are pushed aside. Instead, it’s a story told with music, where the music is vital and interwoven — there is little time for applause after numbers. This is truly an ensemble piece, reflecting the theme of community of the show, with each character brought to life with the utmost care and respect.
Amanda Henderson is a warm and energetic Beulah, whilst Daniel Crowder and Kirsty Hoiles portray the awkward and immediately loveable Nick and Diane. Sara Poyzer gives a fantastic rendition of ‘Me And The Sky’. But really every cast member has their moment, each inviting you to invest in the story a little bit more. The cast are just as welcoming as the residents of Gander were to the ‘plane people’ over 23 years ago. Strikingly, the actual events of 9/11 are sidelined, perhaps reflecting the lack of information many people had without phones in 2001, but also placing emphasis on the millions of stories that occurred around it. The timeline of the tragedy as we all know it lingers menacingly in the background, a sobering reminder that what we are seeing is all based on reality. But alongside it we are offered stories of warmth and survival, and these were real too. There are still beginnings amongst thousands of endings — the sparks of a new relationship, or a rare bonobo chimpanzee having a baby. These are the glimpses of hope we must remember when the world feels a continuously dark and overwhelming place.
‘Come From Away’ is perhaps the warmest thing I have seen this year. Instantly loveable, with a crucial message to share, it is a vital piece of theatre that needs to be seen. In the words of Claude Elliott, real life Mayor of Gander in 2001brought onstage at the end alongside other original Gander residents and plane people — “Come and see this show to see what love and kindness can do.”