Come From Away

In 2001, in the wake of the 9/11 attacks, the USA closed its airspace. 38 planes, carrying around 7,000 passengers, were ordered to land at Gander International Airport in Newfoundland, Canada. Gander and surrounding towns, with a population of just 11,000, opened their doors to the unexpected influx of passengers, providing shelter, food, and kindness during a time of upheaval. This musical is based on these real events.

Director of Come From Away at OSMaD, Daragh Wills, visited Gander and met with many residents. “What struck me most was that the Newfoundlanders didn’t realise their brand of kindness and hospitality was unique until the show’s success. Their unassuming kindness is what makes this story unforgettable. I’m honoured to have been ‘screeched in’ as an honorary Newfoundlander, and to be in the company of such wonderful people.”

Darrah and his team have reinvented the show to make it more relevant to younger people who don’t remember 9/11. However, it remains emotive for those of us who do remember the horror of that day. How we stared at our televisions, not believing our eyes, and came to understand that our lives and our world were changing.

Darragh and set designer Melinda Gallagher decorated the set with pieces representing the Twin Towers after their destruction. Creative use of two sets of movable steps represented boarding stairs and other set pieces. Chairs moved around the stage to represent seats on the planes or elsewhere in the residences and buildings of Gander.

This flexibility mirrors how the cast swap in and out of different roles throughout the narrative. This is an ensemble show of the highest order, and every OSMAD cast member was brilliant, well-rehearsed, and supportive of each other. The twelve talented performers seamlessly jumped between roles, using costumes, accents, and characterisation changes to delineate their different characters and sweep the audience along on the journey.

Come From Away has no interval, and there are few pauses for applause. You could feel the audience was anxious to show their appreciation and they were quick to give a standing ovation.

The on-stage band was delightful and well-led by music director David Barrell. Their use of whistle, fiddle, guitar, mandolin, bass, drum, bodhran, and accordion was excellent. The audience bounced along with Welcome to the Rock and Screech In. You could feel the depth of emotion with Prayer and Something’s Missing. Marina Martin, along with the company's members, did exceptionally well with "Me and the Sky," a seminal song that tells the story of trailblazing female pilot Beverly Bass. Candice O’Brien evoked tears as she told the audience of Hannah’s loss of her firefighter son.  There is not enough room to list every wonderful moment in the 23 songs.

Come From Away is a joyous, life-affirming musical theatre show that takes the audience through many emotions and emerges with an improved understanding of how people can be better and kinder if we try just a bit harder.

Jane Court

Photographer: Ken Spence