Consider this fictional and hypothetical proposal to potential producers for Come From Away: “Well guys we have these ideas we’ve been working on for a musical. It’s based on the 9/11 terrorist attacks and their wake and it is set on an island called Newfoundland where we have a crazy amount of 38 international airplanes and their passengers all landing one after another and all of the cast, it’s quite a large cast by the way, are all very nice people. Lovely warm kind people helping scared people. We are thinking ‘ unconditional love and human kindness’ being the motivational factors between the characters. Oh and there’s dramatic songs… we really like the one we’ve written about kissing a cod. So, what do you think? Think it’ll take off?”
The true revealing of the actual Come From Away production, first presented in America, enjoying a brief stopover in Dublin and then at The Phoenix Theatre in London’s West End, where it became a phenomenal award-winning success, has faded into theatrical history. But this stunning current production that has just opened at Curve Theatre in Leicester, and about to tour the UK and Ireland, may make a wholly positive history of its own if the totally rapturous reception it receives on press night is anything to go by. It seems that ‘kindness and great musical theatre’ is what we are all desperate to share right now in our own uncertain times. Come From Away offers love and kindness and musical dramas in spades and then wheels on even more just when you think the exuberant and exceptionally talented cast have given their all. What a night at the theatre to remember. Standing ovations never felt so good!
It’s easy to see, feel and hear, why this show is so popular with super fan audiences returning again and again. With such musical numbers as ‘Welcome To The Rock’, ’28 Hours/ Wherever We Are’, ‘I Am Here’, ‘Prayer’, ‘On The Edge’, ‘Me and The Sky’, ‘Somewhere In The Middle of Nowhere’ and ‘Something’s Missing’ we are taken on a musical theatre rollercoaster ride made even more powerful as Come From Away is based on true stories about real people and their life changing experiences in the middle of world news shattering tragic events. Through the stories live on stage and, even listening to the original soundtrack, we experience ourselves in profound states emotional states of joy, laughter, sadness, compassion, kindness, devastation, elation and finish the evening off elevated and inspired. Pretty good going for an ensemble driven one act musical lasting approximately one hour and forty minutes without an interval.
All of the totally excellent cast play multiple roles of the Gander based Newfoundlanders and a selection of the some of the unexpected 7000 passengers that made a safe haven in the care of the Gander townsfolk.
The Come From Away Curve press night cast are Natasha J Barnes (Janice and others), Daniel Crowder (Nick, Doug and others), Mark Dugdale (Kevin T, Gareth and others), Rosie Glossop (Bonnie and others), Amanda Henderson (Belulah and others), Kirsty Hoiles (Diane and others), Oliver Jacobson (Oz and others), Dale Mathurin (Bob and others), Nicholas Pound (Claude and others), Sara Poyzer (Annette, Beverley and others), Bree Smith (Hannah and others), and Jamal Zulfiqar (Kev J, Ali and others).
The Come From Away book, music and lyrics are created by Irene Sankoff and David Hein and the director for this touring version is Christopher Ashley with scenic design by Beowulf Boritt. The brilliantly stirring live music and virtually on stage band is musically directed by Andrew Corcoran.
The Come From Away run at Curve ends on March 9th and is mostly sold out. We highly recommend that you check out the box offices and booking systems in the tour venues and book now or this award winning musical drama will leave you standing on the runway as the adrenalin fuelled Come From Away plane ride takes to the skies without you. And that would be a big shame. Book now or we’ll make you kiss the freakin’ cod. So we will. Fasten your seatbelts folks.
