Come From Away is the most important show you can see in the West End at the moment. A show based around the events of 9/11 could so easily be emotionally challenging or some kind of trauma porn. 9/11 changed the world we live in, the after effects are still being felt 18 years later, no doubt for decades after that. Whilst the worst of humanity was being demonstrated in New York and Washington. The best example of humanity was being demonstrated in Gander, Newfoundland.
The immediate response following the attack was to close US air space, to stop any further attacks. Planes were told to go back to where they came from or to land in Canada. One of the airports planes landed at was Gander international airport. 38 planes landed that day, the population of the town almost doubling. Come From Away, tells the true story of how the Islanders welcomed with open arms the people stranded in a strange place, in a time of immense uncertainty, a long way from home. The effect on people and the compassion they showed means they are the only place outside the states to have steel from the World Trade centre.
On the 10th anniversary of 9/11 many of the Come From Aways returned to Gander to celebrate those people who had opened their arms and looked after them. The writers of this show went up to Gander on this anniversary. Irene Sankoff and David Hein interviewed people for hours and began to gather stories not knowing quite what they would get. The journey this show has been on is spectacular. After first being produced at Sheridan College, Ontario in 2013. From 2015 It was then produced at various theatres across America breaking box office records, then it went to Canada. Finally before opening on Broadway it played in Gander, in the Ice Hockey stadium.
Come From Away is such an ensemble piece and really is not about "star"names. The show opens with Welcome to The Rock the energy and urgency as well as the sense of community hits as soon as the drum beat starts drawing the audience in. Potentially the stand out moment of the show which shows Sankoff and Hein's mastery is Prayer, another ensemble piece. The passengers from the landed planes come from all walks of life, cultures and countries. About half way through the show passengers of different religions head to the church, to pray in the wake of tragedy. You not only see people of different religions co-exist peacefully, the languages spoken Arabic, Hebrew, Hindi and English and the traditional music build and weave together into this beautiful moment. It is a great example of how Sankoff and Hein use music to throughout the show.
Other highlights: 28 Hours/Wherever We Are, The Screech In and Me and The Sky. Also Bonnie Harris' compassion for animals and the 'Titanic Lady'.
I am so mesmerised by this production and the world building done with seemingly little, yet when you look closely it is built into every little detail from the underscore to slight costume changes. At the same time CFA expects a lot from the audience to fill in gap, but doesn't need a fancy set or effects. Come From Away holds it own both the story and the storytellers.
This show is about community, kindness and team work, without being asked, it coming naturally. This is demonstrated by the cast on stage, as every action they take on stage is intrinsically affected by everyone else on stage at that moment. If someone doesn't have a correct prop at that moment, it won't get passed to the next person, or the next, for when it is finally needed by the character who uses it. It's like watching a intricate puzzle being solved over and over again.
The more I look into this musical and the backstory of how it came to be, the more I simply adore it. I have watched so many interviews with the creatives, Broadway cast and the REAL people. I am particularly enamoured with Captain Beverly Bass, such as glass ceiling breaking powerful woman. The first female captain of American Airlines, one of the first people to deliver Boeing 777's to the US. Her life story has been captured in the feminist anthem 'Me and the Sky' and will certainly inspire hundreds and hundreds of young women and girls. It's another slice of history this production has captured and portrayed.
I hadn't really processed the 9/11 terror attacks, I mean it was 3 days before my 6th birthday, that would've been a lot to process. Yet it has arguably even affected my life in Norwich, England. I went back and I watched the footage, and I really had not grasped how huge and horrific it was. Which is incredibly naive. In one the news clips I watched there was a girl who was the same age as me and she saw the whole event happen from the window of the building she was in. I think I needed to process the attacks, for me to understand better the times that we live in.
We’re also doing a show about kindness. A true story about kindness. They want it! I can feel they’re leaning forward. That’s not what’s happening in the world right now. Nobody is talking about kindness or making a show about kindness—and it’s the fact that it’s true. Jenn Colella, Original Broadway cast
Ultimately this show. will make you want to go and tell your friends and family how much they mean to you. To go out into the world and do something positive that makes a difference, no matter how big. Life is so temporary and fleeting you don't know when it will be snatched away.
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