Truth is certainly stranger than fiction, as is the case with Come From Away, a musical born in the wake of 9/11.
Reactions to the new hit musical Come From Away have been incredibly empathetic and emotional. Considering its story is one of overcoming adversity from the New York terrorist attacks, this is really of no surprise. But the story it self certainly is.
We all know what happened on that fateful day, but Come From Away centers on the widely unknown 38 airline flights that were grounded in the small Canadian town of Gander, Newfoundland, following the attacks. It is indeed a compelling story, but what brings it its strength, are the towns characters who took in the 7,000 stranded passengers.
Written by husband and wife team David Hein and Irene Sankoff, Come From Away has already earned a league of awards and praise from critics, including Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, who hosted a special performance in NYC. Following successful runs on Broadway and London’s West End, the Australian premiere will take place in Melbourne this month.
For creators Hein and Sankoff, brining the real-life story and characters to the stage involved interviewing the locals and returning passengers at Gander on the tenth anniversary of the 9/11 attacks.
“We wanted to give the audience the same experience of laughter and tears that we felt out there”.
“It was incredibly emotional,” says Sankoff. “We’d hear stories and be chocking back tears because some of these people who returned a decade later to thank the people of Gander, had lost friends or family members. But then the next thing we’d be laughing, because the Newfoundlanders would spin you out with a joke and a bit of irreverence. They just knew how to take care of you. It really was a magical time.”
Visiting the actual town and transferring that feeling of humanity and emotion onto the stage was a major objective, as Hein also explains.
“We wanted to give the audience the same experience of laughter and tears that we felt out there, and then bring the show back to Gander to share their story,” he says. “We did two concerts there, with the proceeds going to local charities because we wanted to give back to that community. We met a woman there who had lost her sister in the Pentagon attack. She had travelled to Newfoundland especially to see the show, so as to live in the story. She said it helped her to heal.”
The production also follows the unusual route of breaking the proscenium forth wall, bringing life to complex and character-rich stories. As Sankoff explains, other productions have served as a great influence.
“We looked at musicals that told stories about groups of people, such as Into The Woods, RENT and A Chorus Line which is probably the closest to our production. We also considered plays like The Laramie Project, which involves a small town’s reaction to a tragedy, and where there’s a lot of direct address. We also used Peter and the Starcatcher, where a band of actors talk to the audience as well as to each other.
“There’s a wide variety of musical theatre and plays that I love and it just depends on what suits the moment,” says Sankoff. “For instance, there’s a song in Come From Away inspired by The Telephone Song in Bye Bye Birdie, which is about as far away from this as you can get. At the same time we are also hugely influenced by Les Miserables.”
“We’ve seen how this story resonates with people all around the world”.
While the Australian production is directed by Tony Award winner Christopher Ashley, the cast includes Nicholas Brown, Nathan Carter, Zoe Gertz, Simon Maiden, Laura Murphy and Richard Piper among many others.
Making the Australian premiere memorable will be the appearance of special guests, the real life townspeople from Gander, portrayed in the show.
“It’s such a gift to have started with the interviews of the actual real people and to have everyone’s voices so distinct,” says Hein. “To see them represented on stage with twelve actors. It’s such an incredible magic trick that the cast does!”
“We’ve seen how this story resonates with people all around the world,” says Hein. “On that particular day we were all in the same moment. It feels good to remind people that there are moments where we all come together, and it doesn’t have to be a response to tragedy. We can show kindness every single day.”
It is a reaction also observed by Sankoff.
“What we hear from audience members, is that they think a little differently after seeing the show,” she says. “They’re a little more open and giving. They want to be a little more kind once they’ve left the theatre, even before they’ve left the theatre!”
Come From Away opens 20 July
For more: comefromaway.com.au
Meeting the Come From Away writers Irene Sankoff and David Hein
