In these times of turmoil and uncertainty, I recommend you treat yourself to a heartwarming story of human decency. The touring production of Come From Away is currently playing at the Ordway in St. Paul, and it’s a feel-good story of compassion, generosity, and empathy.
The 2017 musical — with book, music, and lyrics written by Irene Sankoff and David Hein — is based on the true story of 38 airplanes being diverted to Gander International Airport in Newfoundland, Canada on September 11, 2001 within moments of the terrorist attacks on the United States. (For those who might be interested in learning more about this remarkable tale, I suggest reading this USA Today story.)
Nearly 7,000 passengers more than doubled the population of the small town of Gander and the town’s residents stepped up to help without a thought. They came up with a plan to fill every available space they had, and also bused many of the stranded passengers to surrounding towns.
This story focuses on the passengers from one flight who were hosted in Gander. Once given access to news coverage, passengers were overcome with concern about family and friends at home and desperate to connect. Not only did the residents figure out how to provide food and shelter; they also provided needed emotional support as well as telephones and internet access.
All of the stories in the musical are based on actual experiences — including the passenger who could not reach her son, who was a firefighter in New York City, and after returning home found that he had died while responding to the attacks. On a happier note, there was a relationship that began and eventually ended in marriage.
With a silhouette of trees surrounding the action, the set consists of only chairs and a few tables. Under the direction of Christopher Ashley, the cast of twelve portray both townsfolk and passengers and transition easily among characters by adding a piece of clothing or changing an accent.
I was very impressed with how the cast handled switching characters, changing costumes, and constantly moving chairs and tables while singing and dancing. They did it flawlessly and made it believable as we move among town café, airplane, school bus, housing accommodations, a local bar, and a church. They were even able to create the baggage hold of an airplane.
Given the show’s quick pace and the audience’s vocal enjoyment, my companions and I found it difficult to catch all of the dialogue. If you plan to go, I suggest you do some research to have an understanding of the story, which will allow you to put things in context. It did not take away from my enjoyment of the show.
The music includes many memorable songs, which advance the story. For me the most moving was “Prayer,” which is sung as characters gather in a local church. It combines pieces of the familiar hymn “Prayer of St. Francis” with a Jewish hymn and Muslim prayer. It is a true reminder of the interconnection between all people regardless of race or creed.
The music is wonderfully performed under the direction of Sarah Pool Wilhelm. At the end of the show the audience is treated to a lively performance by the eight musicians who step to the front of the stage, dancing and playing instruments ranging from fiddles and guitars to accordions, flutes and whistles.
Come From Away is the relatable story of simple people being forced into extraordinary circumstances. In all, more than 225 flights and 30,000 to 45,000 passengers were diverted to airports in Canada during this crisis. While we are currently experiencing daily examples of people putting themselves first, it is good to remember that it is through respect and understanding and relying on our neighbors that we are strong.
Photo by Evan Zimmerman for MurphyMade, courtesy Ordway.
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