The date September 11, 2001, is seared in America’s national memory as a day of collective grief and profound horror. Yet it is within this context of national tragedy that Canadian couple Irene Sankoff and David Hein’s hit musical “Come From Away” tells a true story of universal compassion. The Tony-nominated musical has made its way to White River Junction’s very own Northern Stage. Directed by Carol Dunne, the 100-minute local production opened previews on Sept. 24, marking the first show of Northern Stage’s fall season.
Instead of centering around New York as one might expect, “Come From Away” is set in Gander, Newfoundland, where 38 planes were diverted after American airspace was closed indefinitely. In a matter of hours, the town of 10,000 was confronted with the seemingly impossible task of feeding, clothing, housing and otherwise accommodating 6,700 passengers. It’s the enduring relationships that evolve between townspeople and “plane people” that are captured in “Come From Away.”
Northern Stage’s modest adaptation of “Come From Away” provides audiences with a uniquely intimate and distinctly earnest experience, retaining and amplifying the small-town soul of its Broadway counterpart.
The set, consisting of wooden tables, a dozen chairs and moving staircases, is not only the perfect complement to Gander’s folk-like quality, but also conducive to the fast-paced dynamics of the musical. As the story unfolds through a series of vignettes, actors maneuver set pieces around the small half-circle stage, quickly converting the space from plane aisles to a Tim Hortons to a local bar. The frenetic energy of the moving parts is simultaneously chaotic and cohesive, mirroring the tumult of feeling in the wake of 9/11.
While the 12-person ensemble — you read that right, only 12! — is startlingly small for a narrative as character-driven as “Come From Away,” what the cast lacks in quantity, they make up for in fluidity. Each cast member switches seamlessly between a host of characters, Newfoundlanders and passengers alike. The effect is confusing, but as the actors adopt various accents, mannerisms and outfits, every character manages to feel both individual and authentic.
Albert Jennings’s character Kevin J. is endearing as half of an exuberant gay couple and yet he also navigates discrimination as Ali, a Muslim chef. Kate Budney ’21, who plays an awkward local reporter named Janice, doubles as an American Airlines flight attendant; Annie Torsiglieri brings the audience to tears in her role as Beulah Davis, the warmhearted schoolteacher, only to have them cackling at her portrayal of a passenger with a penchant for drunk renditions of Celine Dion’s “My Heart Will Go On.”
Where these characters really shine, though, is with one another. At its core, “Come From Away” is about human connection. As they banter and argue, break up and fall in love, the cast highlights the beauty of these connections. In a time of distance and hostility, it was inspiring to watch Torsiglieri’s Beulah comfort Hannah (Nicole Michelle Haskins), a worried mother, or to see Bob, the cynical New Yorker, slowly shed his suspicions and open his home to newcomers. Bearing witness to these smaller acts of kindness, and knowing that they are inspired by true events, is an affirmation of faith in humanity.
Of course, no musical is complete without music, and “Come From Away” does not disappoint. Grounded in Gander’s Celtic roots and folk music culture, the music was a consistent heartbeat throughout the show, even if it stayed on the safe side. The combination of all 12 voices in the ensemble pieces was powerfully energetic in numbers like “Welcome to the Rock” while deeply moving in others. “Prayer” and “Something’s Missing,” for example, brought me to tears. Cast members shone in their solo performances as well. Lisa Karlin’s uninhibited belting as Beverley Bass, the first female captain of an American Airlines commercial plane, was captivating, and Nicole Michelle Haskins’s rendition of “I Am Here” was heartbreaking in its soft poignancy.
The show has a few faults. It is somewhat happy-go-lucky. Some of the characters are more one-dimensional than others. For example, Muhumuza, played by Darius Wright, is predominantly presented as a victim of racism. Similarly flat, Bonnie (Serena Brook) is solely comic relief; her stage time is dedicated to humorous bits caregiving for plane-confined animals. The brisk pacing may result in some emotional whiplash, but on the whole, the show is well worth the watch.
“Come From Away” is more than a musical; it’s a testament to the warmth and spirit that can grow from unity. It’s a story of compassion, the humanity that emerges even in the darkest of times. But most of all, it’s a reminder that, even when we least expect it, we have the ability to find light in one another, within our communities — and even in those who may come from away.
