COME FROM AWAY – REVIEW OF 2024 REVIVAL OF CANADIAN MUSICAL

Reviewed by James Karas

When the lights on the stage of the Royal Alexandra Theatre went on to signal the beginning of the performance, the audience broke into enthusiastic applause and howls of approval for an extended period. This is the third time Come From Away has played in Toronto and one can only assume that everyone in the theatre had seen the musical at least once. They came pumped up and intent on enjoying every minute of Irene Sankoff and David Hein’s story about the thousands of people that landed in Gander, Newfoundland on September 11, 2001 following the terrorist attacks on New York’s Twin Towers.

The story for those who have yet to get tickets, is about the forced landing of 38 planes in Gander and about seven thousand people from many parts of the world who arrived in the town of about the same size. What happened was a miraculous outpouring of support for the strange visitors. Food, shelter, transportation, assistance and everything imaginable had to be found and provided for them for five days.  

Irene Sankoff and David Hein have crafted a musical as it relates to the experiences of the locals and the visitors that has all the delights you want in the theatre. The music is rousing with moving quieter segments. The humour and the pace are brisk, hilarious and humane.  

The whole show is done by twelve actors/singers who play numerous roles into which they change smoothly and almost imperceptibly. We marvel at the organization and ability to find shelter for all the visitors in the houses of the residents, organize food for them and clothes as well as details like supplies for babies and other essentials that we take for granted. What about tampons?

David Silvestri plays the boisterous town mayor Claude. He frequents Tim Horton’s but that routine is interrupted by the forced landings. He is funny, affecting and humane and these words apply to almost all the characters, the qualification being necessary because some of them have limited opportunity for humour. Like all the other actors he takes other roles as needed. 

The cast of COME FROM AWAY – Toronto Company.
Photo Credit: Matthew Murphy, 2024.

It was a momentous event in the lives of the townspeople and they tell us where they were and how they found out about the arrival of the horde. The same actors as passengers in a plane relate their experience of learning of the landing and being kept in the plane for hours, trying to get in touch with their family and undergoing hardships that were ameliorated by descriptions of the attitude of the townspeople.

In tribute to the outstanding all-Canadian cast and their beautiful performances and Newfoundland accents, I will name them all with the main roles that they played. Cory O’Brien is Oz the town policeman, Lisa Horner plays Beulah, the teacher whose son is a firefighter, while Saccha Dennis plays Hannah the American mother of a firefighter, Kristen Peace is Bonnie the caring SPCA worker, Jeff Madden and Ali Momen are a gay couple. Momen plays a different Muslim character who is put through a humiliating body search because of his faith.

Cailin Stadnyk is the efficient and capable pilot Beverly who is a rarity in her profession. Kyle Brown plays Bob, Steffi Didomenicantonio is Janice, Barbara Fulton is Diane and James Kall is Nick.

Almost all the musical numbers are done by the company. Starting with “Welcome to the Rock”, the nickname of Newfoundland, to “38 Planes” that landed there, to “Blankets and Bedding” the songs describe the activities of the town people to “Somewhere in the Middle of Nowhere” and songs dealing with the anxieties of the visitors.

The sets by scenic designer Beowulf Boritt are simple. Several tables and chairs for the scene in Tim Horton’s and chairs lined up in rows for the in the plane and room for running around, establishing contact and perhaps falling in love.

Director Christopher Ashley creates the mood, speed and the quality of performance with unfailing discipline and precision. The show never lags and always manages to keep the audience gripped in the action. A major achievement.

After about an hour and forty minutes, the show reached its conclusion and the lights went down momentarily. The audience was on its feet applauding and roaring wildly before the lights could go on. They were faster than light.   

______________

Come From Away by Irene Sankoff and David Hein (Book, Music and Lyrics) opened on September 26, 2024, and continues until March 2, 2025, at the Royal Alexandra Theatre, 260 King St W, Toronto, Ont. www.mirvish.com  

James Karas is the Senior Editor, Culture, of The Greek Press