Come From Away

This was a robust and down-to-earth performance which was delivered without a break by a large company with a dizzying range of characters. It was based on the real events of 11th September 2001 when The World Trade Centre and The Pentagon were attacked by planes. All US air space closed, and flights were diverted to Gander Airport in Newfoundland where this small community had to grapple with an influx of thousands of travellers.

The cast worked hard to convey the impact on the lives of the air passengers and on the community and did so very successfully. The coming and goings of the cast, with sometimes the set laid out as on flights and sometimes as a busy community arranging aid, food accommodation, was well produced. The folks of Gander went about their ordinary lives that day - school, a bus strike and council business, and the show opened on the affirming company number Welcome To the Rock led by an authoritative James Cassidy in the role of the Mayor Claude Elliot.

The enormity of the task of arranging help for the passengers became clear in 38 Planes and in Blankets and Bedding and the fear and anxiety of the passengers who didn’t know where they were, and without phone contact to loved ones, was well represented in 28 Hours and Darkness and Trees. The company singing was expressive and impressive with clarity of notes and diction. The songs rained down and the momentum of the performance was maintained while the characters started to crystallise from crowd to individual.

James Cassidy as the informative and reasoning Mayor was completely at home in the part, showing calm at first then becoming more agitated when dealing with the leader of the bus strikers as transport was essential to take passengers to their accommodations. The emergency situation was pinned down by Jane Kerr as Beulah as the school headteacher, organising for the needs of the community and showing love and compassion - in particular for Hannah as she tried in vain to contact her son. As Hannah, Rhona Simpson sang a moving and memorable I’m Here. Susan McFarlane gave us the voice of reason as Annette and David McCabe, as the policemen Oz, made clear his operational difficulties with only a couple of police in the area. Chris Taylor made the most of her role as Bonnie the vet bringing concern and humour to the care for the animals too. Panicking at the responsibility but delighted at the great opportunity to tell the world was Cherry Baxter as the fledgling news reporter, Janice. On the airline side Joanne McKie excelled as Beverley, the first female Flight Captain, having to deal with her bosses and showing her mettle in dealings with irate passengers. Shirley McNulty gave us humour and hope in her growing relationship with another passenger, Nick. David Swain suited this role of frustrated business man and later that of Doug the air traffic controller; Zander Cruikshank delighted in his role as Bob whose experience of life led him to trust no one; and Hannah Sanderson sang beautifully in carrying off the role of the rabbi. Ross Martin as Kevin T and Daniel Baxter as Kevin J nailed the male couple whose relationship came under great strain as they dealt with new situations. Daniel also found his mark as Ali, the Egyptian discriminated against by authorities fearing Muslims. He along with Ross Martin, Rhona Simpson and Hannah Sanderson led Make Me A Channel of Thy Peace with the cast’s lovely harmonies behind them. All of humanity was there and the cast showed how all were changed by their experience.

This was a simple and effective set, changing from scene to scene with cast arranging the chairs. Costumes were apt everyday clothes. Lighting was judiciously used complementing the moods of the scenes.

I found the whole performance truly affirming of humanity and riveting as events unfolded. All involved can be justly proud.

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