Come From Away is the lesser-known story of 9/11.

It’s impossible not to be moved by the tales of humanity in the wake of utter tragedy, writes Sinead Corcoran

WHEN I heard I was being sent to review a musical about 9/11, I thought I’d misheard.

A singing and dancing, jazz hands-y production of the worst terrorist attack in history? Surely that’s guaranteed to be jarring at best, horrifically bad taste at worst?

That isn’t what Come From Away is all about. Not really.

While the events of September 11 have been well-documented, Come From Away is the lesserknown true story of the other 38 planes that were forced to land in the middle of nowhere.

Well not nowhere, but it might as well have been.

Seven thousand international passengers were grounded in Gander, Newfoundland — a tiny town you’ve probably never heard of, with a population of just 9000.

And when 7000 frightened and confused passengers stumbled off the plane, Gander’s population almost doubled — without the town having any notice or time to prepare. It didn’t take a numbers whizz to work out resource and hotel room-wise, Gander was screwed.

While the horrors of 9/11 were unfolding in New York, thousands of miles away a local community was forced to rally — turning schools into emergency accommodation, working around the clock to provide food and clothing and welcoming strangers into their homes.

With just a handful of cast members, who switch seamlessly between playing locals and travellers, the Canadian production is as slick as it is heartwarming.

Starring Broadway veterans Jenn Colella, Chad Kimball and Rodney Hicks as Newfoundlanders and their visitors, they manage to convincingly portray both identities.

Hundreds of interviews with the real travellers inspired the musical, and it’s those stories that hook on to your heartstrings.

A gay couple frightened of being stranded in a conservative town.

A panicked mother of a New York firefighter, who sat by a landline around the clock for days on end, with no way of a finding out if he’d survived.

The striking bus drivers who left picket lines to ferry shell-shocked passengers to emergency accommodation.

The grounded pilots who peeled potatoes and cooked meals for the terrified and starving travellers.

The supermarkets which emptied their fridges and shelves, free of charge.

A Muslim passenger subjected to a humiliating strip search.

And perhaps one of the few happy endings to come out of such darkness, two passengers who fell in love.

I’d challenge even the staunchest of audience-goers not to well up during this one, as it’s impossible not to be moved by the tales of absolute humanity in the wake of such utter tragedy.

The multi-Tony-nominated hit about a tiny town opening its arms to frightened strangers seeking solace is the feel-good musical we need right now.

The Prime Minister of Canada, Justin Trudeau, seems to think so — which may be why he invited President Donald Trump to join him at the show in March.

“This is a show about how being good to each other is so important,” says Sue Frost, one of Come From Away’s lead producers. “People want to be reminded that human beings are basically good.”

Gander now offers tours of the city for Come From Away superfans. And former mayor of Gander Claude Elliott says, “If there is no more room just give someone a call, and you can stay in their home.”