It’s back! COME FROM AWAY came to Sydney, closed due to lockdown and has reopened to enthusiastic audiences, keen for an uplifting story. The award-winning musical is now playing at the Capitol Theatre until January 9, 2022.
These are just a few of the reviews from around the world: “a hit … a masterpiece … inspiring … who knew kindness and generosity could be so thrilling.”
In the 1930s the largest airfield in North America was in Newfoundland, a refuelling station in the pre-jet age. By the 1960s, the airfield was rarely used. Then in 2001, 7000 stranded passengers from 36 planes landed, redirected from their destinations when the US closed its airspace due to 9/11. The town of a few thousand residents sprang into action providing shelter, food, comfort and phones. The 7000 remained in the town for six days, until the US airspace reopened. Nerves ran high, uneasiness turned into trust and enduring friendships were formed.
Canadian writing partners and married couple Irene Sankoff and David Hein wrote the book and then the score for the musical about the events of those six days. New York’s Junkyard Productions’ Sydney show includes performers from around the globe, including six from the Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts. The seven musicians play a mix of Celtic and modern instruments, providing a rapid-fire pace to the show … Celtic, because being separated from the mainland, Newfoundland retained many of its early settlers’ traditions. Their folklore is unique, the people superbly hardy and their English accent very different. The term ‘come from aways’is Newfoundland lingo for people from elsewhere.
This small town on the edge of the continent showed extradentary hospitality without expecting anything in return. Their goodness changed the lives of many of the stranded air passengers. Initially many found the town’s generosity alarming! Were there really such kind people in the world? It was difficult to fathom. The care extended even to the many animals that were on the flights, including two rare bonobo chimpanzees. One woman spent most of the time feeding cats and dogs and helping the bonobo give birth! You couldn’t make this up! It really happened!
The performances are of top quality. The songs are wonderfully foot-tapping. The twelve performers play multiple roles seamlessly. The simple set is effective. The lighting, sound and choreography are just wonderful. From the photos in the program of the people in the town, it seems the casting company did a marvellous job of finding performers that looked much like the actual people.
But the best bit is that it’s true. The spirit of generosity exists. The covid pandemic has challenged the world and taught all of us lessons about shared responsibility and the importance of kindness. The spirit lives on.
COME FROM AWAY is playing at the Capitol Theatre until January 9, 2022. The running time is 1 hour and 40 minutes. The musical is recommended for ages 10 and over. An Auslan Interpreted performance will be held at 2pm on Sunday 19 December, 2021.
Production photography by Jeff Busby.
Review by Carol Dance