Come From Away: In Review
It goes without saying that I certainly see more ballets than I do musicals, but every so often I do get a wonderful opportunity to attend a musical production. This time it was Come From Away with music, book and lyrics by Irene Sankoff and David Hein.
The musical tells the story of the Canadian town (Newfoundland) who took in the 7,000 passengers whose planes were rerouted on the day of the 9/11 terrorist attack. Perhaps an unusual backdrop for a musical, and yet it is dealt with in a way that shares the shock and sadness surrounding the 9/11 disaster, whilst leaving space for humour and showcasing the value of human kindness.
To tell you that I was blown away would be an understatement. The music and choreography is extremely tight, only supported by an appropriately simple, yet flexible set. The cast effortlessly change characters throughout the performance, playing both the Newfoundland citizens and ‘the plane people’, and due to the calibre of the cast, it is never confusing.
The opening is full of vitality and power, immediately getting you on the same buoyant wavelength with the cast, and pretty much keeping you there all the way through. As the running time is only around 1 hour 40 minutes without an interval, everything flows so seamlessly and nothing is superfluous. You cannot help but be fully engaged, since there is so much going on all the time, so many stories and so many layers.
Of course, I have to discuss the music which was incredible. The songs are certainly memorable, and yet manage to always be pushing the story forward. Every song and every word counts for something, with no number feeling redundant or unnecessary. The layering of melodies and lyrics allow most of the cast to be singing together in so many of the songs, really promoting that feeling of community and the fact that there isn’t really a ‘lead character’. It is a team effort, just like it was for all the people in Newfoundland on 9/11 and the days afterwards. The live band on stage were also absolutely marvellous and so precise. Their energy and seemingly effortless playing added to the team spirit, giving such a warm and welcoming feel to the production.
For me and many of the people I saw the production with, it was hard to not want to climb up on stage and join them, all singing and all dancing. Truly a wonderful evening and such a wonderful way to kick off the year of 2023!
Performance I attended: 7:30pm, 2nd January 2023 (Phoenix Theatre, London)
