Come From Away – Leeds Grand Theatre

Book, Music and Lyrics: Irene Sankoff and David Hein

Director: Christopher Ashley

“It was the best of times, it was the worst of times.” Charles Dickens’ famous opening line of A Tale of Two Cities, set during the time of the French Revolution, might equally be appropriate for this musical depiction of the incredible true story set in the small Newfoundland town of Gander when the town’s population of 10,000 residents welcomed over 6,500 strangers into their midst when 38 planes were diverted there after the terrorist attacks on the Twin Towers in New York on 9/11. When humanity was seen at its worst and most tragic in New York, the beacon of kindness and compassion shone brightest in Gander.

Most people will not have heard of Gander or be familiar with the story but this award winning show sets the record straight with it’s exuberance, vitality and excitement. Running at one hour and forty minutes without an interval and delivered by an extremely talented twelve strong cast it certainly packs an emotional punch so that by the end a rapturous audience are whooping with delight in a standing ovation. We learn of many individual acts of kindness and generosity as the Newfoundlanders reacted to the strangers as they would their neighbours, opening up their homes and their hearts, offering food, shelter, phone time or the simple succour of a shower or a hug. The name of Gander is now indelibly printed on our hearts just as is the original atrocity of 9/11. The show is a spectacular success in bringing the world’s attention to this little known slice of history and demonstrating just how people can rise to the occasion when a totally unexpected event lands them in the middle of a crisis. This reviewer has learned a lot and been thoroughly entertained in the process.

All the cast are universally good and it would be churlish to single out any individuals. All are virtually onstage throughout and all play multiple roles with subtle changes of accent and costume, but all this is achieved effortlessly and somewhat breathlessly so that by the end the audience must be almost as exhausted as the actors. For a musical, of course, it is crucial that the performers possess a good singing voice and this does certainly not disappoint. All the singing is confident and assured in both the solo performances and the harmonies of the whole company.

So all the cast deserve a mention. Nicholas Pound as Claude Elliott, the town’s mayor, gets proceedings underway in leading the company in the opening number Welcome to the Rock, a very catchy upbeat song that sets the scene and introduces the audience to all the main protagonists and the background to the story. Claude is the main narrator throughout and this seasoned professional is a very safe pair of hands in what is a pivotal role. Sara Poyzer, mainly as Beverley, one of the pilots, has an exceptionally good singing voice. Daniel Crowder and Kirsty Hoiles shine as the “love interests” Nick and Diane, he an English oil executive and Diane an American met and fell in love during their five days in Gander and married the next year, honeymooning in Newfoundland. Mark Dugdale and Jamal Zulfiqar mainly as the gay couple Kevin T. and Kevin J. show humour and pathos in equal measure, and Zulfiqar as Ali, a world-famous Muslim chef encounters some racism in the light of events when all he wants to do is help out in the kitchen. Bree Smith, mainly as Irish-American grandmother Hannah O’Rourke who spent most of her five days in Gander seeking news of her son who was a firefighter in New York, bonds with Amanda Henderson mainly as Beulah Cooper, a Newfoundlander whose son was also a firefighter. In real life both have become firm friends and regularly stay in touch. Oliver Jacobson is mainly Oswald (Oz), the local constable who is also memorable as an orthodox Jew whom no-one really knew. Rosie Glossop is mainly Bonnie Harris, who worked in Gander’s animal shelter and realised there would be animals in the aeroplane holds. She made it her mission to care for a menagerie of 19 that included dogs, cats and two bonobos (chimpanzees), a male and a pregnant female heading for a zoo in Ohio. Natasha J. Barnes is mainly Janice, a local reporter who is new to her job and is faced with one of the biggest news stories ever unfolding before her eyes. And last but certainly not least, Dale Mathurin is mainly Bob who plays all his multiple roles with aplomb and humour. All this is complemented by a 7-piece band of accomplished musicians who treat the audience at the end to an on-stage mini concert that goes down extremely well.

The set design, lighting and sound are simple but effective, making full use of the Grand’s generous stage space and enabling the twelve protagonists to move about effortlessly. The stage has twelve performers for most of the duration all simultaneously visible yet they are perfectly synchronised and never look cramped, which is to the credit of Kelly Devine (Musical Staging) and Richard J. Hinds (Associate Choreographer).

Come From Away, which refers to those people who are outsiders who come from places that are different to Newfoundland, is a thought provoking piece that encapsulates all that is good about humanity and demonstrates that a world-shattering event such as 9/11, which is one of those happenings that everyone tends to remember where they were when they first knew about it, also has consequences that may not at first seem so significant but which turn out to be just as memorable.

Runs until 11th May 2024