You might remember my last stagey blog was on my trip to see Waitress. Well, I’m trying as much as I can within my circumstances to be a little more spontaneous in my theatregoing, and so when a good friend asked if I wanted to see a new favourite of hers with her after my trip to Joe’s Diner, I was happy to oblige, especially after hearing so many wonderful things!

I remember exactly where I was on the morning of September 11th, 2001 when hearing about the horrendous terrorist attacks. I was waiting for my lift to school. Seeing those images, more than just feeling sadness and fear, I remember feeling a tremendous sense of anger that I’d have to go about my day as usual being unable to do anything to help. Five years ago, on my once in a lifetime trip to New York we visited Ground Zero. It was  emotional for a whole host of reasons, but I was also incredibly inspired by everyone affected showing and continuing to show tremendous hope, courage and resilience in the face of incomprehensible tragedy, and working to keep the sense of community alive. That’s the spirit at the heart of Come From Away, Irene Sankhoff and David Hein’s musical, currently breaking Box Office records on Broadway, touring extensively over the US and Canada, and now playing at London’s Phoenix Theatre. I haven’t been to the Phoenix for a good number of years, since it was home to Once, so just from that point of view it was good to be back there experiencing a new show.

Come From Away tells the story of the 7,000 passengers from all around the world whose 38 flights were diverted to “The Rock”, otherwise known as Newfoundland, Canada in the wake of the attacks, as part of Operation Yellow Ribbon. Locals from Gander and the neighbouring towns opened up their homes, and slowly formed friendships and relationships that still stand to this day! It’s such a powerful and moving story, but told with beautiful simplicity and just radiates warmth and heart. It’s funnier than I was expecting it to be too, I loved the “STFD” and Moose references in particular, a testament to director Christopher Ashley who has perfectly judged the balance of light and shade. There are moments and stories I wish were expanded and given more time, but that’s the same with most musicals I see, and the quality of talent onstage more than makes up for it!

We theatre lovers can shout from the rooftops about the power of the ensemble cast and how they drive a show, just as important as the principal cast. This show truly encapsulates that principal and brings it to the fore: as we only have a cast of 12, switching between different roles, both Gander residents and stranded passengers. The ease with which they do so is tremendous, just with a simple costume element change, inflection in the voice and so on keeps the action nicely paced, and the 100 minute runtime zips along, with no interval. That in mind, it seems incredibly cruel of me to single out anyone in the cast as all are incredibly talented, but I want to give a few special mentions out all the same as it meant a lot to me to see particular folks onstage again.

Clive Carter is one such, bringing warmth and wit to  Claude and his various other guises by the bucketload. I last saw Clive over at the  Theatre Royal Drury Lane as Mr Salt in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, one of my absolute favourite musicals, so it gave me so much joy to see him again. Same goes for Jonathan Andrew Hume, who was my original Simba in The Lion King. In his two main roles, Kevin J and Ali, he gets to play at both ends of the emotional dynamics: he has great delivery and comic timing, but it was lovely to see him play those quieter, more emotionally charged moments as well.

David Shannon is absolutely magnetic in all of his roles: funny, charismatic and charming. I unfortunately hadn’t seen him onstage since his time as Valjean in Les Miserables, so it was incredible to hear that wonderful voice again. He leads a gorgeous rendition of a song called “Prayer”, where all the passengers have a shared moment regardless of their different faiths. The lyrics are so simple yet are so poignant that I had a tear in my eye and shivers up my spine.

In terms of faces that are new to me, I must talk about Robert Hands & Helen Hobson, who play Nick & Diane, the couple who find each other and romance amid the tragedy. Their chemistry is so charming and it warmed my heart all the more seeing interviews with the real Nick and Diane!

Come From Away’s score is a blend of rock and folk influences, which I really enjoy, and I will continue to gush ad infinitum about how great it is to see the band onstage! If I had to choose a favourite, I’d have to go with the opening number: Welcome to the Rock, I just love the rythmn and the harmonies! Coupled with Howell Binkley’s beautifully atmospheric lighting (blues and whites are the order of the day in the main) and really compliment Beowulf Borrit’s stripped back set: there’s wooden panels and chairs a plenty! Despite the stripped back aesthetic, the stage is always full of energy and movement, thanks to Kelly Devine’s musical staging. Perhaps too busy at times, but on reflection I felt this was a conscious decision reflecting the nature of and emotion in the story.

Full of heart and hope, I think Come From Away is the kind of musical the theatre world could do with more of right now; it moved and made me think, exactly the kind of story I connect best with. I got home from London at 1am and immediately bought the Broadway Cast album, and regularly listen to my favourites. I’d especially like to Jonathan and David for their kind words and warm reception afterward, and hope to take another trip to Gander in the near future.

 

For info and tickets: https://comefromawaylondon.co.uk/