Review: Come From Away at Crown Theatre
Come From Away at Crown Theatre
Sunday, May 7, 2023
10/10
The international smash hit Come From Away has landed at Crown Theatre, and X-Press Magazine had a window seat for opening night on Sunday, May 7. Come From Away is the story of the 38 flights diverted to the small remote Canadian town of Gander as all airspace closed suddenly on September 11, 2001, the 6,579 scared passengers stuck on the planes, and the kindness of locals who opened their homes and their hearts during the emergency. Based on exhaustive research at a 10-year reunion in Gander, playwrights Irene Sankoff and David Hein have twisted together many experiences from both passengers and Newfoundlanders into this award-winning musical.
Come From Away certainly deserves the accolades and applause; however it is a challenging play to review. The set and costumes are intentionally minimalistic. There are no jaw-dropping tap routines. The songs are not catchy earworms. The cast is only 12. The best thing to do is describe how Come From Away makes the audience feel…
Come From Away tugs on so many heartstrings; nostalgia for the time of air travel when kids could visit the cockpit, painful recollections of the twin towers falling, the desire for a community and more. For those too young to recall their own memories of 9/11 (it was 22 years ago), it will still connect with the early days of the 2020 pandemic; the shaken foundations of perceived safety, the endless news cycle, and the uncertainty of what comes next.
Come From Away will impact each person differently depending on their background too. Through the eyes of Ali, an Arabic chef, we remember the sudden fear and racism of people of Middle Eastern appearance. Those who grew up in a small country town will grin with recognition at the unlocked doors and endless invitations for a cup of tea.
It is very much an ensemble production with no leads. Each actor plays their main character ‘and others,' simply swapping accessories and coats. There are many stories from many characters but never is the audience lost or confused. They will hardly notice that the incredible Captain Beverly (Zoe Gertz), singing about her career as the first female commercial captain in the USA, is the same Gertz as the flirtatious school librarian.
And they are all incredible characters, including Bob from Brooklyn (Kyle Brown) who is sure he will be shot, the animal-loving local Bonnie (Kat Harrison) who cares for the animals in cargo, the mother of a NY firefighter desperate for answers (Sarah Nairne), gay couple Kevin and Kevin (Jeremy Carver-James and Douglas Hansell) nervous about how they will be received in the “boondocks,” and the resourceful local Beulah organising supplies (Emma Powell). One can't help but wonder about (and google) the true stories days after the curtain has fallen.
Come From Away is a masterclass in storytelling. It tells stories of hope, grief, frustration, and most of all, humanity’s incredible capacity for kindness. Stories not to be missed.
MELISSA MANN
Photos by Jeff Busby
