It’s likely that every American over the age of thirty remembers exactly where they were on Sept. 11, 2001, the day two airplanes flew into the twin towers of the World Trade Center in downtown New York City.

On that fateful day, over 30 planes were redirected from their U.S. destinations to land in the close-knit little town of Gander, Newfoundland, stranding close to 7,000 passengers.

A decade later, husband-and-wife writing team David Hein and Irene Sankoff made a trip to Gander and were entranced by the story of the townspeople who (mostly) decided they had no recourse but to let all the passengers off the planes and welcome them (and numerous pets) into their homes. Hein and Sankoff decided to celebrate the story in the form of a musical.

Directed by TheatreWorks Silicon Valley’s founder and retired artistic director Robert Kelley, “Come From Away” is beautifully told, thoughtfully cast, and, at play’s end, warmly applauded.

This is definitely an ensemble play, with each of the twelve cast members playing both a townsperson from Gander and an airline passenger, and some taking on additional characters. The entire company is excellent.

There’s a surprising amount of humor in this play, which is a welcome contrast with the horrible context of the 9/11 attacks.

For example, when a school bus is commandeered to take passengers to the Red Cross Center, the driver stops for a moose crossing the road. Asked why he’s stopping, the driver explains, “Because the moose will move only when he’s good and ready.” Another humorous moment is when the town toilets get backed up because of the 7,000 visitors. It is a group of travelling cardiologists who show up with plungers to solve the problem.

Music is a huge part of “Come From Away,” and everyone joins in singing the majority of the songs. A few stand out, including Melissa WolfKlain’s rendition of “Me and the Sky,” Dawn L.Troupe’s “I Am Here,” the whole company singing “38 Planes,” and Alison Ewing singing a duet with Michael Gene Sullivan in “Stop the World.”

Credit musical conductor William Liberatore, along with his four musicians (Christina Walton, Tim Roberts, Richard Duke and Artie Storch), for playing the entire score while hidden somewhere in the bowels of the Mountain View Center for the Performing Arts. Several of the numbers have Walton playing a fiddle and Duke an electric guitar onstage behind the actors.

Close attention to detail makes “Come From Away” seem both authentic and relatable. It clocks in at less than two hours, with no intermission. It’s definitely not to be missed.

“Come From Away” runs through May 10 at Mountain View Center for the Performing Arts. For further information click here.

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Rating: **** (For an explanation of TheatreStorm’s rating system, click here.)
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“Come From Away” by Irene Sankoff and David Hein. Produced by TheatreWorks Silicon Valley. Director: Robert Kelley. Music Director: William Liberatore. Choreographer/Associate Director: Alex Perez. Scenic Designer: Wilson Chin. Costume Designer: B. Modern. Lighting Designer: Pamila Z. Gray. Sound Designer: Cliff Caruthers. Artist Counselor: Judith Nihei. Stage Manager: Randall K. Lum. Assistant Stage Manager: Megan Hall.

Cast

Bonnie: Monique Hafen Adams. Janice: Kaylee Ann. Diane: Alison Ewing. Bob: Anthone D. Jackson. Kevin T.: Nick Nakashima. Beulah: Heather Orth. Kevin: Adan Qutaishat. Oz: Chris Reber. Nick: Michael Gene Sullivan. Claude: Colin Thomson. Hannah: Dawn L. Troupe. Beverley: Melissa WolfKlain.