Come From Away
Book, Music, and Lyrics by Irene Sankoff and David Hein
Directed by Christopher Ashley
The Fox Theatre
May 14, 2019
Cast of Come From Away
Photo by Matthew Murphy
Come From Away North American Tour
It’s one of those days that people remember with specific detail. “Where were you when?” Most people have an answer. I have an answer, and invariably when the subject comes up, people around me start telling their stories of 9/11. The people of Gander, Newfoundland in Canada have a particular story that has become internationally famous–that of a small unprepared town that suddenly had to play host to thousands of grounded air travelers for several days following that fateful Tuesday in 2001. Come From Away is the award-winning musical that tells their story. Currently on tour across North America, the production has now landed at the Fox, and it’s well worth seeing.
This isn’t a huge, flashy show. In fact, it strikes me as the type of show that will do particularly well in regional theatres once the rights become available. The Broadway production represented by the current tour is striking, but remarkably simple, in a good way. There isn’t an elaborate set–it’s more of an evocation. A tree-surrounded, versatile backdrop designed by Beowulf Borritt, stunningly lit by Howell Binkley, and with the excellent band conducted by Cynthia Kortman Westphal on stage as part of the action. The music is a mixture of styles, mostly with a folk-ish vibe and featuring a variety of instruments from guitar and drums to accordion and various flutes and whistles. It’s a distinctive score with songs that tell the stories of the various residents and “Come From Away” visitors.
The staging is dynamic, with an energetic pace and a small-ish cast in which the actors are all performing more than one role. The story follows the events in Gander on September 11, 2001 and the days following, with some catching up at the end to tell the audience about what happened to some of the key players in the ten years after the events of the story. The residents of Gander, various airline passengers from around the world, and airline employees are featured and a whole lot happens in a few days. The locals scramble to help the passengers, the passengers find out about what’s happening after hours on their planes, and various relationships are formed and strained. It’s a tuneful show with a lot of heart, focusing on kindness and compassion.
There’s drama and humor, and some genuine poignancy, all played out by a fantastic ensemble cast. Everyone is excellent, but standouts include Kevin Carolan as the town’s mayor; Becky Gulsvig as pilot Beverley, who leads the standout number “Me and the Sky”; Megan McGinnis who plays animal shelter worker Bonnie, who makes it her mission to find and care for the animals on the planes; Danielle K. Thomas as Hannah, who’s searching for news about her NYC firefighter son; and Chamblee Ferguson and Christine Toy Johnson as Nick and Diane, an Englishman and Texan woman who get to know one another over the course of the show.
I hadn’t seen or heard much of this show before seeing this production, and I’m glad that I’ve been able to see it now. This is a top-notch touring production of a poignant, unique, fascinating musical with a great score and an excellent cast. Come From Away isn’t a long show, but there’s a lot going on in its 100 minute running time. It’s a story of a town and its people who tell their stories and share their lives with strangers and help find some hope in the midst of tragedy. It’s a remarkable show.
Becky Gulsvig (center) and Cast
Photo by Matthew Murphy
Come From Away North American Tour
The North American Tour of Come From Away is playing at the Fox Theatre until May 26, 2019
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