Theatre review: Come From Away’s true story still soars with authentic East Coast style

Hit musical about Gander, Newfoundland’s heroic welcome to unexpected flights on September 11, 2001 still resonates

By Vince Kanasoot

Come From Away. Photo by Matthew Murphy for MurphyMade.

Come From Away is at the Queen Elizabeth Theatre to September 15

BROADWAY ACROSS CANADA’S Come From Away has landed in Vancouver again, and it will undoubtedly inspire and uplift audiences throughout its stay. The Tony Award-winning musical, based on the events from the tragic September 11 attacks being memorialized this week, pays tribute to the efforts of the residents of the town of Gander, Newfoundland and Labrador, who housed and cared for the thousands of people stranded by diverted flights. 

Under the genius direction of Christopher Ashley (who garnered a Tony for this show), a talented cast of 12 portrays Gander’s residents, the stranded airline passengers and crew, and miscellaneous other characters. From the opening number, “Welcome to the Rock”, the cast exude powerful conviction and stage presence. From there, we’re whisked back to September 11, getting a glimpse of daily small-town life in Gander, where the central focus occurs at—where else?—a Tim Hortons. In fact, the town’s mayor, Claude (Andrew Hendrick) states that everything always starts and ends at Timmy’s.

With the fateful Twin Tower attacks come chaotic air-traffic-control issues, and we see the reactions of the Gander folk as they learn that 38 planes carrying 7,000 passengers will abruptly land and temporarily double the town’s population. We also witness the confusion and fear of the passengers onboard one of the flights, captained by Beverley Bass (Addison Garner). All of this action unfolds with minimal props and scenic effects, but under Ashley’s effective staging and with the talents of the cast, no additional bells and whistles are needed.

In one moment, the cast members hold flashlights under their faces while sitting in the dark, portraying airline call-centre agents. The next second, they switch to playing airline passengers. Garner slips on a blazer every time she transitions between playing Beverley to Gander local Annette, but like the rest of the company, her brilliant physical and vocal characterizations are enough to immediately let us know who she’s playing at all times. 

As the story continues, we see Gander residents hastily prepare to house and feed their unexpected guests, and the experiences of the stranded passengers as they cope with the uncertainty of the fate of their loved ones and their own circumstances. What follows is a poignant depiction of human connections, as characters discover the commonalities and emotions that can bond people from around the world. 

What makes this show most memorable is its interesting mix of characters, brought to life with vivid personality and authenticity. As Beulah, the mother hen of the relief efforts, Kristin Litzenberg’s down-to-earth, affectionate persona brings an inviting calm. Kathleen Cameron is wonderfully quirky as animal safety advocate Bonnie, while Ryaan Farhadi and Richard Chaz Gomez bring great humour to their roles as the couple Kevin and Kevin. Farhadi strikingly contrasts his Kevin persona with his portrayal of Ali, a Middle Eastern man who is unjustly singled out amid fear and racism. It’s an uncomfortable, but important truth to include in this story. 

From the  “I’m an Islander” expressions of Newfoundland pride in the powerful opener,  to the festive “In The Bar/Heave Away”, Irene Sankoff and David Hein’s score (the married Canadian writing duo also wrote the book) soars with authentic East Coast style. “In The Bar/Heave Away” is a roaring show highlight, as we see the characters take a break from the story’s serious action to drink and dance in the local bar. In true East Coast party style, the show’s band takes centre stage with their instruments to join in the festivities.

Among the countless powerful moments throughout the show, one particularly uplifting instance is “Me and the Sky”, where Garner, with her phenomenal vocals, recounts the journey of her character, Beverley Bass, who overcame challenging systematic barriers to become the first female captain of an American Airlines commercial plane. 

In fact, many of the characters are based on real-life people who can be found through Google searches, if one is so inclined. Come From Away immortalizes the valiant efforts, emotional strength, and lifelong bonds experienced by these people in Gander during the week following September 11. The show has staying power, largely because it celebrates the humanity that unites us and offers inspiration that can help light the way in times of adversity—all delivered with undeniable Canadian pride.   

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