By JESSICA NEU
Where were you on 9/11?
If you are currently older than 30 years old, you likely have some memory of that day. I was in 3rd-period geometry class when the first plane hit. I became aware of the situation the following period when I had a class in a room with access to cable TV.
Now, where were you on 9/12? I am guessing your memories of that day are not as permanent as those from the previous day. I assume I returned to high school, but I honestly could not say anything for certain. However, for the people of Gander, Newfoundland, 9/12 and the forthcoming days are just as memorable, if not more so, than 9/11.
Newfoundland forms part of the most easterly province of Canada. When US airspace closed on 9/11, 38 international flights were suddenly grounded in the small town of Gander, with a population of 9,000. Approximately 7,000 passengers were suddenly in need of food and shelter. What happened next is a testament to the power of community, unconditional positive regard, and love.
Written by Irene Sankoff and David Hein, the 2017 musical Come From Away tells Gander’s response to 9/11. On the 10th anniversary of this remarkable event, Sankoff and Hein interviewed residents of Gander and the passengers who were unexpectedly rerouted to the small town. They used their stories to develop this award-winning musical.
Come From Away marks the latest show in the PNC Broadway Series. This season special enjoys a limited run this weekend only at the Benedum Center.
Director Christopher Ashley and 12 actors captivate audiences with this inspiring tale. For the townspeople of Gander and surrounding territories, 9/11 began like any other day. The mayor (Andrew Hendrick) started this day, like every day by getting a Pepsi at Time Hortons. However, as the morning went on, word quickly began to disseminate that Gander was about to be at the center of the world in this historical moment. Once a thriving airport because international flights needed to stop and refuel, the airport is now a bit dilapidated and unprepared to accept nearly 40 planes at once. However, the townspeople come together to welcome the “come from aways” with open arms and kind hearts.
Come From Away is an intense, hilarious, and incredibly intricate show. From the moment the show takes off, the cast moves at the pace of a 747 and does not land until the final notes of the performance. One of the many facets that make Come From Away so brilliant is how the actors flawlessly morph from one character to another. The entire cast portrays Newfoundland natives and airline passengers. Their stories intertwine, but we never lose sight of who is who at any given moment. Chairs are manipulated, sometimes without us even noticing, to denote scene changes between various locations in Gander and the airplanes. The sheer ingenuity behind the production of Come From Away is nothing short of amazing.
Five days of fear, stress, turmoil, love, hope, joy, and beauty are packed into this 1-hour, 40-minute production. The folks of Gander exude warmth, care, openness, and an unconditional love for their community. They gather blankets, extra clothes, toiletries, and enough food to feed 7,000 people. Conversely, the airplane passengers and flight crew are petrified, stunned, and, at first, confused. Those flying at the time had no information as to why they were suddenly grounded in Newfoundland. They did not know what happened that morning, where they were being taken, or when they could fly home.
The 12 actors pour their hearts and souls into every moment of the show. Their emotiveness takes audiences on an emotional rollercoaster that ebbs and flows between sorrow and laughter. The script is continuously funny. The comedic relief is necessary to keep the show from becoming macabre, and the company drew big laughs from the audience throughout the show. Each character finds their own stride in their comedic lines, but Richard Chaz Gomez and Ryaan Farhadi are pure perfection as Kevin T. and Kevin J., a gay couple a bit out of their element as they question if Newfoundland is a “red state.”
We see the best humanity can offer as Gander store owners allow townspeople to take whatever they need for the “plane people” for free. SPCA employee Bonnie (Kathleen Cameron) fights relentlessly to care for the animals on board (dogs, cats, and rare bonobo chimps). Townspeople who spoke different languages came to help translate for international travelers.
The people of Newfoundland observe a moment of silence for Americans at a local, busy gas station – something most Americans would not have even done at the time. Not while checking out at a gas station, at least. A delightfully innocent romance blooms between two strangers, Nick (John Anker Bow) and Diane (Tyler Olshansky-Bailon). A life-long friendship forms between Hannah (Hannah-Kathryn Wall) and Gander resident Beulah (Kristin Litzenberg) as the whereabouts of Hannah’s son, an NYC firefighter, remain unknown.
We also see the dark side of humanity. Come From Away explores the human psyche when stretched to its limits. Passengers feel that they are on the brink of insanity, stuck first on the airplane and then in Newfoundland. There is a Middle Eastern passenger who is threatened by other “plane people” and pulled aside for repeated questioning despite no evidence that he is a terrorist.
Another dimension that adds to Come From Away’s emotional ebb and flow is the soaring score. Music director Sarah Pool Wilhelm leads a group of stellar musicians who accompany the company in up-tempo, toe-tapping numbers, including “Welcome to the Rock,” “On the Edge,” and “Screech In.” The string instruments provide an Irish influence to the score, offering a sense of community, revelry, and safety. Other numbers, such as “Stop the World,” provide a haunting reminder of how precious and fleeting time can be. “Stop the World” pontificates the cliché “live each day as it is your last,” with a transcendent articulateness, making this song a standout number.
Kaitlyn Jackson portrays real-life pilot Beverly Bass, one of the captains flying from Paris to Dallas when her plane was diverted to Newfoundland. Jackson commands “Me and the Sky,” highlighting her vocal strength and passion for aviation. I was 14 on 9/11. Old enough to understand what happened, but too young to comprehend the situation’s gravity. Jackson’s delivery of “Me and the Sky” single-handedly reframed my thoughts on the terrorist attacks.
Come From Away is more than a musical. It is an experience. It is a powerful, emotional ride that reminds us of the power of community and that people are intrinsically good-natured. We see what communities are capable of when they work together to achieve a common goal. Religion also becomes a central metaphor throughout the show. Kevin T. repeatedly hears familiar hymns in his dreams, which leads to the stunningly beautiful “Prayer.” The company comes together to show the power of prayer from the lens of various religions, as worship can be especially healing in times of the unknown. Religion became a common language as many travelers did not speak English, so strangers communicated through the Bible to develop an understanding. With religion being the common language among strangers, Come From Away is a brilliant sermon about the power of empathy, kindness, and selflessness.
Mr. Rogers always reminded us that we must “find the helpers in times of uncertainty.” Pilots and passengers found more than just helpers in Newfoundland. They found restoration in the faith of humanity amidst one of the scariest times in modern history.
TICKETS AND DETAILS
Pittsburgh Cultural Trust‘s PNC Broadway in Pittsburgh presentation of Come From Way has perfrormances Saturday, May 3rd at 2p and 7:30p, and Sunday, the 4th at 1p and 6:30p. Tickets available at the Box Office or at https://trustarts.org/production/94994/list_performances
Categories: Arts and Ideas, Reviews
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