This might not be the best way to begin a review, but over the past eighteen months or so, I have had some health issues which, apart from the physical aspects, have had a psychological effect on me, sapping my enthusiasm to such an extent I was seriously thinking of retiring from writing altogether. Being a true Yorkshireman though, I decided that, as I had paid for this website, I would struggle through to the termination of the contract before packing it in. If any of you are cheering now because you think you have read the last of my stuff, then tough. Thanks to this show, I have totally changed my mind and have decided to go on forever. I couldn’t bear to think I might miss anything this life-affirming should it appear in future.
I have been going to the theatre since being taken to the pantomime as a kid in the fifties, but I can honestly say that I have never seen anything even approaching this as a piece of work. Even the format of the show, under Director, Christopher Ashley, was unique. It was a true ensemble piece with no star and no main character, everyone had a more or less equal part and they were all beyond superb. Because of this I have not singled anyone out as I prefer to embrace the ethos. The band, again a brilliant group of musicians, were included in some scenes to add to the effect.
The actors and musicians
The book, music and lyrics by Irene Sankoff and David Hein, deal with the events of 11th September, 2001, not in relation to the attacks on the World Trade Centre, the Pentagon, or the failed fourth terrorist attempt in Pennsylvania, but the consequences of all of the air space over the USA being closed to commercial traffic.
The action is set in the small town of Gander, population 10,000, which is in Newfoundland, Canada. Not only is it a small town in relation to the number of citizens, but Newfoundland is an island and so their insular mentality is accentuated. The total population of Newfoundland, aka The Rock, is only 200,000. Gander’s significance is that it has a very large airport because, being off Canada’s East Coast, it was a busy refuelling stop in the early days of transatlantic flights. As the range of aircraft increased due to jet engines, the traffic dwindled but it was kept open as a local airport and an emergency landing strip. On 9/11 38 commercial planes and 4 military aircraft, with a total of 7,000 passengers and crew, were diverted to Gander as the skies were cleared. The choice was made as it was thought that the larger airports could themselves become terrorist targets. The musical tells of how the town coped with being doubled in size within a few hours. One fact which didn’t occur to me at the time – or even later – was that passengers in the planes which were diverted were not told what was going on in case there was a rogue attacker on board who might detonate whatever explosives they had smuggled on board, or taken the pilot hostage. It wasn’t until the aircraft had landed and the travellers vetted that they were told about the attacks on the USA. Some of them had been in the air for fourteen hours and then made to remain on the plane for a similar length of time. After processing they were taken to schools and community halls or later put up by locals who had been told of the situation and all offered to help. Appeals were put out on the local tv station and whole town rallied to the call. On the third day at 3pm they broadcast an appeal for toilet rolls and two hours later put out another asking people to stop bringing them as they had a classroom full of the things.
The passengers coming in to land.
It was six days before the planes were allowed to take off to complete their journeys, during which time the locals adapted to their new situation, and the visitors integrated with both them and each other.
A Virgin Atlantic plane contained a party of children who were going to Disneyland to celebrate their birthdays through the Make-A-Wish Foundation, so Lisa, the 16 year-old daughter of local constable Oswald Fudge, organised a birthday party for all 350 people in their shelter complete with a cake, clowns, balloons and a disco DJ’d by her dressed as the town’s mascot, Commander Gander.
When people brought fresh food to cater for the passengers, the mayor cancelled all of the ice hockey games to turn the stadium into ‘The biggest walk-in fridge in Canada.’
Bonnie Harris who worked in the local animal sanctuary surmised that there would be creatures in the holds so tended to the 19 of them, including cats, dogs and two monkeys, one of which was pregnant. The whole show was a joyful celebration of the way in which ordinary, or, in this case, extraordinary, people come together in times of need.
There were love interests between those thrust together, with an English passenger who was going to a conference in Texas, meeting a woman from that state, and eventually marrying her and honeymooning in Newfoundland.
The happy couple
It wasn’t as slushy as it might sound because of the way in which it was presented. Each actor played multiple parts as the stories were revealed. The action switched back and forth rather than it being episodic. One of strands featured a woman who suffered a loss in the attacks, in a scene which was handled very sensitively but without being maudlin.
The whole thing just flowed seamlessly in an almost operatic manner with a large part of the dialogue being sung. When I say sung, I mean sung – and danced – to within an inch of its life. Right from the outset there were energetic numbers, lasting for some time and involving the whole cast, each one eliciting sustained applause. The continuity helped by the set, which remained constant all night, acting as the interior of a club, the aircraft hold entrance and the inside of the fuselage, all with just the swift rearrangement of a dozen chairs.
Four passengers becoming honorary Newfoundlanders in the ceremony called Screeching In, which consists of drinking a shot of the local fire water and kissing a dead cod!
The music reflected the unique accent of Newfoundland whose population are predominantly of Irish descent, The Rock is known as the most Irish place outside Ireland. Having said that, the actors switched effortlessly from the local patois into the various national accents of their other characters.
The finale involved all the actors which ended with the audience on their feet in appreciation but, rather than take a contrived curtain call, the band ran onto the stage to provide a memorable close.
The band ripping it up at the end.
My lasting memory of the evening will be the number of patrons who were either in, or bordering on, tears as we were leaving, swept up in the celebration of how human beings have far more things in common than divide them. These were real stories about real people, from all over the world with different backgrounds, languages and religions, coming together to overcome a unique situation.
I really urge you to go and se this show if at all possible, as you will find it immensely uplifting and remind you that not everyone in the world is as they are portrayed on the news or by those who post comments on social media.
Come From Away is at Leeds Grand Theatre until 11th May. For more details and to book, please go to https://leedsheritagetheatres.com/whats-on/come-from-away-2024/
Should you not be fortunate enough to be able to make these dates then go to https://comefromawaylondon.co.uk/tour-dates/ for details of the rest of the tour, which has stops in Hull and Sheffield. You’re welcome.
For other shows at Leeds Heritage Theatres it is https://leedsheritagetheatres.com/whats-on/
All images provided by Leeds Heritage Theatres
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