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★★★★★
The hit musical ‘Come From Away’ has been touring the UK and Ireland this year, fresh off the heels of a West End run at the Phoenix Theatre from 2019-2023. It’s been one of my most highly anticipated shows of the year, with Canterbury having to wait till the latter part of the tour for its arrival at the Marlowe Theatre. Based on the unbelievable story of a community of Newfoundlanders who opened their doors to 7,000 strangers in the wake of the devastating 9/11 attacks, this musical is packed full of heart and toe-tapping songs that highlight the warmth of the communities of Eastern Canada.
Background and themes
The musical is written by Irene Sankoff and David Hein and is based on the events that occurred after US airspace was closed following the terrorist attacks in New York City. US-bound planes had to be diverted to Canada and Gander, Newfoundland was chosen because of its small population and largely unused airport, which was popular in the days when transatlantic flights had to stop somewhere to refuel. The narrative takes place over 5 days and looks at what happened when a small town suddenly had thousands of stranded passengers to look after.
It touches on themes of kindness and humanity in the wake of a horrific event and also provides a perspective on the compassionate people of Newfoundland. However, what is so powerful about ‘Come From Away’ is how the writing is not afraid to highlight the harsh realities of the days following 9/11. From the finger pointing to the panic, the story is very real and balances the warmth of the community with the immediate impact on society.
Dynamic “Chairography”
The creative element that stands out the most is the choreography, with the majority of the musical brought to life through innovative chair formations. From aircraft seating to informal bar layouts, simplicity is key here in recreating the different events that happened. It is amazing what can be achieved with an arrangement of chairs, some tables and an incredibly talented cast. I was initially a little sceptical of how this would work without the revolving stage in London, but any doubts were squashed within the first few minutes of the performance.
The movements are also extremely well synchronised and have significant power and impact when adopted by the entire ensemble. For such a bare set, you truly believe these people are in the implied locations, proving that you don’t need complex backdrops to create a visually innovative piece of theatre.
Cast performances
‘Come From Away’ is a complex musical, with each performer taking on multiple parts. It is very much an ensemble-focused piece and this is a standout element of the show, but there are a few performances that really stood out for me in the touring production. Firstly, Natasha J. Barnes is the perfect Janice & others. Natasha’s comedic timing in the flight attendant sequences is a joy to watch, absolutely nailing the one-liners which provide light amongst some of the show’s more thought-provoking themes. Kirsty Hoiles and Daniel Crowder also have such an endearing on-stage connection as Nick and Diane. Daniel nailed the awkward Englishman persona and it is wonderful to see Kirsty’s spin on Diane, specifically the character’s evolution across the 5 days.
A must-see at the Marlowe!
It goes without saying that the musical is an absolute triumph. It is also guaranteed to restore your faith in humanity, encourage audiences to think about community differently and possibly even book a trip to Gander to meet the wonderful people that inspired the show. For me, this has always been one of the best musicals out there and I am really pleased to say this is still the case with the touring production. You can catch ‘Come From Away’ at the Marlowe Theatre until Saturday 16th November, with the last few tickets available via the theatre’s website! You don’t want to miss the opportunity to see such a universally adored musical in Kent.
Thanks for reading my blog today.
Love Kat xxxx
*My ticket for ‘Come From Away’ was gifted in exchange for an unbiased review.
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