Come from Away is the remarkable, true story of how unsuspecting residents of Gander, Newfoundland hosted 7000 unexpected “guests” when 38 international planes were diverted there on September 11, 2001. Canadian married writing team of Irene Sankoff and David Hein wrote the musical after visiting Gander on the tenth anniversary of the attacks to interview locals and returning passengers coming back for a reunion. They translated some stories directly to the musical and merged others for story purposes.
This show has a true ensemble cast, with everyone playing multiple roles, seamlessly shifting identities and moving chairs and rarely leaving the stage — beautiful voices, beautiful, diverse people. A delightful, rollicking curtain call performance by the seven musicians was an extra treat. Musicians were on stage for the entire show, half hidden behind the tall tree trunks that framed the versatile set, which magically became a variety of places, using only a few chairs and tables, assisted by a rotating stage and effective lighting.
Come from Away is performed without an intermission and lasts a little over an hour and a half. It is a therapeutic and entertaining musical for this day and age. It runs through September 15.
http://www.whartoncenter.com