Since it first emerged in 2013, Come From Away has gradually developed a reputation as one of the top new musicals of its day, right up there with Wicked and Six. It’s wowed Broadway and the West End, and now it’s arrived at Salford’s Lowry for the festive season.
Sure enough, this Lowry production, directed by Christopher Ashley, is pretty dazzling. Between them, a talented cast of 12 conjure up an entire town, namely Gander in Newfoundland – and not only that, but at a moment in time when the town’s population has doubled overnight. The time in question was September 11, 2001 and the five days following, when planes were grounded in the wake of the attack on the World Trade Centre. Some 38 international flights were diverted to the relative safety of Gander, and the town suddenly found itself playing host to several thousand upset, bewildered guests.
The Come From Away cast, then, play everyone involved – passengers of all creeds and nationalities, the flight crews, and every Gander inhabitant from the mayor to the bar staff. The staging is relatively simple – it rarely gets more complicated than a few rows of chairs – and the inventive stagecraft required to bring the story to life proves to be an absolute delight. The songs, by turns yearning and euphoric, work well to express the barrage of feelings experienced by all concerned, with a live band playing (mostly) out of sight. There’s plenty to like here, not least the fact that this very human story is delivered with real skill by performers, rather than relying on tricksy, showy gimmicks.
There’s a ‘but’ though, isn’t there?
Yes, there is. Because for all of its dazzle and wit, Come From Away ultimately feels somewhat hollow. On a basic level this is, curiously, a story without conflict. The ‘plane people’ land and – spoiler – the Newfoundlanders are really kind to them. Yes, the plane people want to find out what the hell’s going on and then get back home, but in the circumstances they’re actually having a pretty good time. It’s ‘nice to be nice’ is a universal truth that bears endless repeating, but as an engine for a stage show, it’s not particularly involving.
Photo courtesy of The Lowry
There’s also the fact that, with the cast playing so many different characters, very few get enough stage time to establish themselves and make an impact. Even those that do sometimes feel like their stories are being rushed.
Also, there’s no getting away from the fact that this is a show about 9/11, or at least its consequences, but it chooses to play down the connection almost to nothing (does 9/11 get a single onstage mention? Or the Twin Towers?). It’s understandable that the decision’s been made to try and keep the politics out of it. But can you? Should you? The result is that the ‘plane people’ are cut off from the rest of the world, boozing and dancing, seemingly having touched down in Brigadoon or a modern Ealing comedy.
There are some parallels here with Local Hero, too, but the difference is that Bill Forsyth’s film acknowledged that people aren’t always good. There’s not a single speck of grit in Come From Away‘s Gander, not one local who resists helping out, and while that may have been the case in fact, it doesn’t make for much conflict in fiction. Very occasionally there’s a flicker of anger or distrust, but it’s never sustained or developed.
There are more niggles (let’s not get started on the facile fiddle-dee-dee folksiness of the Gander mob), but they’re all fundamental to the production and its DNA. It remains a brilliant show, and all involved richly deserve the standing ovation they receive on the night. Incidentally, it was fascinating to see the UK producers join the cast on stage at the end to praise them and welcome on several of the real-life inspirations for the show’s characters, only marred by one producer demonstrating that he hasn’t learned how to pronounce ‘Salford’. It’s not ‘SAL-ford’ as in ‘Sally’, mate.
Ultimately, Come From Away has its heart in the right place and delivers a fun night out, but the suspicion lingers that it could use just a bit more substance to make it truly satisfying.
All photos, including the main image, courtesy of The Lowry
Come From Away is at The Lowry, Salford until January 5, 2025. For more information, click here.
