Nothing much happens in Gander, and folks in the town on the island of Newfoundland like it that way. Because the population is so small, there’s a true sense of community. And the troubles of the rest of the world seem irrelevant and remote.
Christopher Ashley directed thoughtful musical themed to 9/11.
But in the wake of the 9/11 terror attacks, the world itself turns out to be smaller than the townspeople could have imagined. Their interaction with the passengers and crews of planes diverted to Gander is the inspiration for “Come From Away,” the crowd-pleasing musical directed by Christopher Ashley and running through May 26 at the Fox Theatre.
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Thrown together by circumstance, the folks of Gander and their unexpected guests gradually begin to bond despite their cultural differences. And they find that grief is a universal language.
With a book, lyrics and music by Irene Sankoff and David Hein, and a cast of 18 assuming multiple roles, “Come From Away” is very much a contemporary musical. The songs flow into one another without being particularly memorable, and the fact-based story comes across as more of a series of vignettes than a cohesive narrative.
The characters, while well-acted, are more functional than distinctive. And the tasteful humor barely rises above the sitcom level. But most theatergoers probably won’t care. They’ll simply have a good time.
Ashley brings such directorial imagination to the show that it’s well worth seeing just for his striking stage pictures. And his vision is perfectly complemented by the contributions of scenic designer Beowulf Boritt and lighting designer Howell Binkley.
A hit on Broadway, “Come From Away” doesn’t quite live up to its hype. But it’s an engaging, big-hearted musical that addresses the aftermath of an unspeakable tragedy with the proper reverence.
Calvin Wilson
Theater critic
