DYNAMIC DOZEN DELIVERS
Turning the backdrop of one of America’s darkest days into a lively and highly entertaining musical, the creators of Come From Away successfully navigated turning terrifying fact into entertaining fiction. Irene Sankoff and David Hein culled real world interviews and insights of those personally involved into an exceedingly engaging book, music and lyrics propelling the action of the hit musical Come From Away, now playing at the Rudder Auditorium through tonight.
The small town of Gander, Newfoundland is the setting, forever changed in an instant. On September 11, 2001, 38 airplanes, carrying nearly 7,000 passengers, were ordered to land in this small town when the American airspace was closed as a result of terrorist attacks in New York, Washington D.C. & Pennsylvania. This fateful day is acted out by an astute ensemble of just a dozen actors embodying over 30 characters. With just the switch of a hat, jacket, microphone or accent, these performers immediately morphed into an array of townspeople and befuddled air travelers. The plucky local reporter (Hannah Kato) on her first day on the job, the addled mayor (Andrew Hendrick) negotiating a local bus strike, which will quickly be placed on the backburner, the headstrong female pilot, Beverly Bass (Addison Garner) concerned for her plane, crew, passengers and family, Hannah (Candace Alyssa Rhodes) an anxious mother whose New York based first responder son is “missing” and a Muslim passenger (Trey DeLuna) faced with increasing distrust and prejudice from both passengers and flight crew, just to name a few.
Frightened and lonely, these weary passengers were quickly embraced by the locals. High schools morphed into makeshift shelters. Neighbors invited “plane people” into their homes for showers and meals. Romances blossomed, friendships forged. All set against the tick of the clock as a distant hurricane is inching ever closer. The story concluding with a 10 year reunion, an awarded scholarship worth over a million dollars and a heartwarming, toe-tapping, company-wide performance met with a standing ovation from an appreciative audience.
Christopher Ashley‘s Tony Award-winning direction is lovingly restaged by Daniel Goldstein. Sarah Pool Wilhem‘s musical direction was crisp and pinpoint perfect, the band bookending the action on stage. Beowulf Boritt‘s scenic design, at first glance, was simplistic, but effortlessly transformed into planes, buses and school rooms with just a quick rearrangement of chairs. Toni-Leslie James real world costuming proved relatable, instantly empathetic toward each character on stage. Anyone who has ever flown has come across similar sweater clad silhouettes at 40,000 feet. Additionally, the unforgettable, impactful lighting of Howell Binkley, added necessary emotional gusto to broad scenes of silly bar crawls or intimate pointedly poignant prose.
Gleaned from real stories of the citizens of Gander as well as global travelers who were “coming from away” for an unexpected and unscheduled stopover for nearly a week, Come From Away is a proven bang for your buck. A hit on Broadway, successful national tours as well as productions playing throughout the world, audiences cannot get enough of this life-affirming show. A wonderful blend of solid story telling, toe-tapping ditties while exploring the necessary bonds forged during the most dire of circumstances, this musical is a real example of the best of humanity, tied up neatly in just over ninety-five minutes.
Come From Away
reviewed at Rudder Auditorium at Texas A&M University June 25, 2024
ends June 26, 2024
tour continues; for dates and cities, visit Come From Away
