Today marks the 18th anniversary of the attacks on 9/11. As we’ve done each year since 2001, we spend this time reflecting on where we were, remembering those whose lives were lost, and honoring the heroes. Some of the stories are full of heartbreak and sorrow. Some of the stories shed light on our unity and humanity.
In recognizing the heroes of 9/11, it feels especially poignant this particular week aligns with the arrival of the “Come From Away” national tour at the Wharton Center. “Come From Away” tells the true story of the 7,000 airplane passengers who were stranded on 9/11 in Gander, a small town in Newfoundland, and the residents who helped feed, clothe, and house them for five days. Real-life testimonies from the passengers and Gander residents give an intimate look at the confusion, chaos, and Canadian camaraderie in the days that followed 9/11.
With book, music, and lyrics by Irene Sankoff and David Hein and Tony Award-winning direction by Christopher Ashley, “Come From Away” is an emotional and heartwarming kickoff to the Wharton Center’s 2019-20 season. It runs through September 15, 2019.
From the show’s beginning moments in “Welcome to the Rock,” I was instantly transported to the town of Gander and its people. Any trouble I had catching words due to the characters’ accents was addressed in this wink of a first line: “Welcome to the rock if you come from away / you’ll probably understand about half of what we say.” We learn of their quiet, ordinary ways of life leading up to the moment they hear the news of the planes crashing the morning of 9/11.
As home to what used to be one of the biggest airports in the world, Newfoundland becomes an emergency destination for dozens of planes in the air carrying passengers from all over the world. In all, 38 planes with 7,000 passengers descend upon Gander and nearby towns, whose residents welcome them with open arms.
The small and mighty cast members of “Come From Away” seamlessly morph from Gander residents into the scared and confused airline passengers, their names and memories plucked straight from real-life testimonials shared with the show’s writers. “28 Hours / Wherever We Are” is a layered tapestry of their experiences woven together. Even with the show’s simple stage design, it’s easy to feel the claustrophobia of hours in a cramped airplane and the frenzy of preparations in Gander.
The entire cast is fantastic, but I was especially captivated by Marika Aubrey as pilot Beverley, Newfoundlander Annette, and others. In Aubrey’s soaring “Me and the Sky,” we learn about Beverley’s challenges and triumphs in her dream to become a pilot; her realization that the thing she loved the most in life was used as the weapon on 9/11 is beyond heartbreaking. As Annette, Aubrey also steals many of the show’s laughs as she fantasizes about the men she encounters.
The most pleasant surprise of “Come From Away” is just how bawdy and funny it is, considering the circumstances. The versatile cast had me laughing as much as it had me in tears. Even in times of unimaginable tragedy, healing moments of humor still sneak in. “Come From Away” is also unflinching in representing the fears and confusion that arose from people’s religious and cultural differences. These moments are particularly poignant.
I loved the show’s folk-pop score, particularly in the invigorating bar scene and the drum beats of “Welcome to the Rock” and “Finale.” The talented eight-piece band plays with the power of a band twice the size on the stage, wrapping up the show front and center with a hand-clapping celebration.
At an hour and forty minutes with no intermission, the show moves at a steady, uninterrupted pace. Much like it was for the passengers, there’s no way to leave, and yet by the end, I didn’t want to go. In the show’s final moments, learning the enduring impact of those five days in Gander gives us all a hopeful glimpse at what happens when human kindness prevails.
This summer, Wharton Center ended its season with “Hamilton,” the Broadway juggernaut that spans years of our American history. Some things we already knew; many things we learned along the way. But audiences are generations away from ever knowing what it was like to live it.
What an interesting juxtaposition to see “Come From Away” mere months later, watching a moment in time we all actually experienced. And yet, the story of what happened in Gander feels relatively unknown — humble, a small island of a memory in the vastness of 9/11 experiences. Thanks to this lovely musical, this is a story that will never be forgotten.
Don’t miss “Come From Away” at the Wharton Center, playing now through September 15. Click here for show and ticket information.
And be sure to read my interview with Julie Johnson, who plays Beulah and other characters, to learn more about her experiences bringing this story to life each night.