Cast of Come From Away – photo credit Jeremy Daniel
Paper Mill Playhouse continues its successful season with a re-imagined version of the musical Come From Away. The show is absolutely outstanding and one that you will long remember. With this year being the 25th anniversary of 9/11, it is a perfect time to see this show.
Come From Away had a successful run for over five years on Broadway. It won Tony Awards including the 2017 Best Musical Award. The book music, and lyrics are by Irene Sankoff and David Hein. It was based on true stories.
What makes this play so enjoyable to see is that it shows a heartwarming side of humanity as people reached out to help each. There were no strangers. The story that unfolds shows how everyone came together with a huge task in front of them. And with grace and some humor, a small community was established for about 5 days with a population of nearly 17,000 people. And they got along.
The Paper Mill version brings the stage to life with a brilliant cast and excellent staging of the story. Much of the story is told through the songs with an orchestra on stage to really help the music come alive...
How the Story Begins - The show opens with what starts as a normal morning in Gander, Newfoundland. Maybe the biggest concern they have at that point is that there is a strike by the bus drivers in town.
The town of just under 10,000 people are enjoying their normal day. Then suddenly,, news comes that the United States has been hit by planes flying into critical buildings destroying them in their wake. A decision is made that the US airspace must completely shut down with a number of routes being diverted to Canada. There is no certainty if other planes with terrorists onboard are still out there. No flights were permitted to take off. Those already in the air needed to land immediately. Since there is no decision as to when it can reopen, the passengers will need to disembark their planes. But where are they to go?
Gander International Airport is selected as a major landing site and 38 commercial flights arrive. There are nearly 7,000 people on those planes who will need to be housed and fed. Not everyone speaks English.
This production directed and choreographed by Richard J. Hinds brings the tension of the situation out very well. But it is more than tension at first; it is a sense of being overwhelmed with what to do. Director Hinds does excellent work at bringing these concerns out in the show.
The Solutions Begin to Happen - Suddenly, people of Gander start coming together to figure out how much food they can supply, where they can provide bedding, and all things essential for somebody who is just stepping off of a plane.
And as the planes arrive, it takes time to get everyone off. It has been said that some of the passengers stayed up to 24 hours on a plane.
The ability to work together to figure out a solution is a major part of the story. The story shows how people can work together to solve problems. This is where we start to meet major characters in the story. Bonnie is a part of the ASPCA who tries to find animals trapped on the planes and bring them to safety. Claude agrees to allow the buses to run despite the strike. Kevin and Kevin, a gay couple, are a little uncertain about what it all means. Nick and Diane hit it off immediately and begin a somewhat relationship. Beverly, a pilot recounts her journey to become a woman in airlines, Hannah finds out her son, who is an NYC firefighter, has gone to the Towers to fight the fires. Ali becomes a person of concern when the time comes to get back on the planes.
Not only do the townspeople manage to get food and other life essentials for the displaced passengers, but they also plan events to help them feel welcome and a part of their town. There are fine scenes of meeting up in the pub and even a town wide community cookout.
Photo Credit Jeremy Daniel
The audience has the opportunity to see a new community come to life. It is a rare event to witness and one must remember that this is a true story. In the midst of terrible events happening, humanity at its best takes place. The story also includes the eventual departure of the passengers and how it affected the town and those who went back to their own lives in many parts of the world.
The Music Tells Stories and Entertains - This production of Come From Away features actors playing instruments live onstage. The music is memorable, lively, and upbeat.
Come from Away contains songs which help to develop the story in a very pleasing manner. The score made up of 15 songs includes such memorable pieces as “Welcome to the Rock” which opens the show and introduces Gander. “28 Hours/Wherever We Are” cites the fatigue and concern as the passengers are finally taken off of the planes and brought to Gander and other outlying towns. “Me and the Sky” is the story of Beverley and how she become an airline pilot. “Something’s Missing” is one of the final songs which recounts feelings people are having as they go back to their own lives.
Cast and Creatives - This is a hard working cast who are filled with enthusiasm as they perform. Actors portray one or more roles or a role plus playing an instrument.
The cast features Jeannette Bayardelle, Andréa Burns, John El-Jor, Nick Gaswirth, Lisa Howard, and Lisa Helmi Johanson. Also in the cast are Kent M. Lewis, James Moye, Jason Tyler Smith, David Socolar, Erica Spyres, and Rema Webb.
Understudies include Molly Coyne, Travis Darghali, Brandi Knox, and Matthew Whennell-Clark.
The creative team for Come From Away produces a marvelous production. This includes Sam Groisser (Music Direction), Nate Bertone (Scenic Design), Michelle J. Li (Costume Design), and Paige Seber (Lighting Design). Also a part of the Creative are Emilia Martin (Hair, Wig, and Makeup Design), and Kevin Heard (Sound Design). Patricia L. Grabb is the Production Stage Manager. Casting is by ARC.
About Come from Away - The production runs approximately 100 minutes with no intermission.
It is scheduled to run now through March 1, 2006.
Visit the Paper Mill Playhouse website for tickets and more information.
A Special Note – Pay it Forward 9/11
Inspired by a partnership with Pay It Forward 9/11, everyone who attends Come From Away at Paper Mill is invited to help promote kindness and unity in their own communities by “Paying It Forward” and performing acts of kindness towards strangers, in turn asking them to do the same.
With over 35,000 audience members expected during the run, the Paper Mill community hopes to inspire a ripple effect of good deeds into Millburn, New Jersey, and beyond.
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