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In lieu of the reopening of Broadway after a 14-month shutdown and the 20th anniversary of the tragic events of 9/11, Apple and eOne join forces with Junkyard Dog Productions to release the film adaptation of Come From Away. Through its talented cast, versatile set, and balanced storytelling, Come From Away brings another perspective to the 9/11 story we all know.
http://https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Af77C4zUkjs
Welcome to the Rock…38 Planes
Come From Away tells the true stories of the nearly 7,000 passengers in 38 planes that were diverted to Gander, a small town in Newfoundland. This was due to the events of 9/11 and the Gander townspeople who welcomed and helped those passengers. In the course of these four days in Gander, the passengers and townspeople are changed in different ways that mirror the kindness that was seen and experienced during this moment of history as well as the pain and fear.
28 Hours…Phoning Home
Come From Away’s twelve-person cast may seem small, but their capabilities are infinite and mighty! Each actor plays at least three characters who are all starkly different from one another. Through distinct character choices and small on and off-stage costume changes, the actors completely transform themselves into someone new.
Every single actor blew me away for so many different reasons. Although, if I had to highlight just one, it would have to be Jenn Colella’s performance of Beverly Bass. This character is the first female pilot for American Airlines. The actress’s portrayal of the pilot’s composure in front of the passengers and vulnerability in talking to her family is so realistically and seamlessly done. Colella’s gushing glee during her song “Me and the Sky” is
infectious beyond belief due to the child-like happiness she displayed despite all the naysayers in her tale. By the end of this song, she expresses the anger and sadness that her greatest love — flying — has been used to cause too much pain and suffering in the world.
Darkness and Trees
Come From Away‘s set seems bare. However, it is so versatile and assists in actively serving to tell the story of Gander while silently telling the story of 9/11.
One of the most noticeable unique aspects of this production is its chair choreography. Each character sits and utilizes 1 of the 12 mismatched weathered chairs. It seems to represent Gander’s way of continuously making ends meet just as they do with the temporary increase in population. Through strategic chair placement, the cast makes the set what it needs to be for the scene — a plane, a bus, a bar, and yes, in true Canadian fashion, a Tim Horton’s.
In a 2017 interview with Broadway World, Beowulf Boritt (the set designer) dissects the symbolism of his design. Boritt states that the wooden planks of the backdrop are painted a blue that has been weathered with time. This weathering has left behind “spots of intense blue that mirror the sky on September 11” which have been “seared into [his] mind”.
As for the tree trunks, they are actual tree trunks from the Adirondacks. They’re so real, in fact, that they began sprouting leaves in May 2017! These are meant to display the remoteness of Gander. Boritt goes on to state that the two trunks that appear snapped represent the two towers.
Nothing’s Missing
Come From Away’s balanced storytelling allows the audience to enjoy the contagious happiness and kind gestures of the Gander townsfolk as well as be reverent of the events of 9/11. I’d be lying if I said this musical hasn’t left an imprint on me. As a New Yorker, I was moved to tears of both joy from the stories told and sadness from my own memories of that day. However, I cannot deny that this is truly a musical experience. I look forward to the day I can experience it live.
Come From Away comes to AppleTV+ on Friday, September 10th.
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