COME FROM AWAY
★★★★★
Human kindness overflows in this true story about a group of airline passengers whose plane was forced to land in the tiny town of Gander, Newfoundland, (population 10,000) when flights were grounded after the 9/11 terrorist attacks. Entering its last stretch in the West End, Come From Away is a heartwarming musical that will make you laugh, cry and marvel at how people are at their best when faced with the worst.
Doubling Gander’s population, the displaced travellers are a diverse assortment of humanity — including the first female American Airlines captain, a British businessman who finds romance in the arms of a Houston native, and a gay couple named Kevin and Kevin (“It was cute at first”), who arrive fearing small-town prejudice only to be welcomed with open arms.
The locals are equally colourful, with the dozen or so outstanding cast members swapping shirts and headgear as they flit between dual roles as townsfolk and tourists, deftly moving chairs to form aircraft cabins, bus seating, bars and homes. There are no fancy sets and no need for them, either. It’s a show about connection, tolerance and being good neighbours, not just to the folk you live next door to, but also to the world in general.
The narrative-propelling score by Irene Sankoff and David Hein (who also wrote the book and lyrics) is a spirited mix of Celtic folk and rock. The songs stick in your head and the characters stay in your heart in a show that grounds them in one location but takes flight as a truly inspiring and uplifting musical theatre masterpiece.
When the world is again going through the toughest of times, Come From Away restores your faith in the indomitable nature of the human spirit. Catch it before it closes.
Come From Away is at London’s Phoenix Theatre until 7 January 2023