Therry Theatre. Arts Theatre. 6 Aug 2025
If ever a resilient, nay, jubilant sense of community springs from a stage, it is from this Therry production directed by David Sinclair.
Of course, it is all about community, more definitively than perhaps any other piece of musical theatre. “Come from away” is a term the Newfoundland Canadians use for visitors and, on September 11, 2001, as the air routes were closed on that dire day of world trauma, some seven thousand outsiders descended most literally on the island town of Gander - that was thirty-eight planes carrying passengers from ninety-two countries.
It was the way in which the small-town locals coped with this invasion of scared and desperate strangers which became the source of legend and of this wonderful musical from the Canadian couple, Irene Sankoff and David Hein.
There was utter chaos with civilians scrambling to rally emergency supplies for crowds streaming into local halls and sports centres, carrying airline pillows and rugs. And, then language issues had to be dealt with, as well as religious differences, family anxieties and, oh yes, even animals from planes. But, as the immediate stresses eased, passengers and locals found common ground, and much magnanimous hospitality was opened to the hapless transients - so much so that they left Gander not only with their thanks amply in international currencies in the community suggestion box but they returned over the years for reunions.
This feel-good show ran for award-laden years on Broadway but this Therry version has only a fortnight at The Arts, so you had better put your skates on. And I mean it.
Sinclair has rallied a mighty and highly classy cast and Peter Johns has gathered a troupe of Celtic musos who just do one's heart good. They are there onstage, not only the accompaniment to song and dance, but they play a veritable pulse of life. It is just lovely. Comforting. Enveloping.
And there are all the people up there, all shapes and sizes. The cast switches seamlessly from local community to passengers, from town cafe to aircraft, just with a jiggle of costume and a movement of chairs.
Chairs, of course, are the principal set and prop for this show, and Sinclair has them as well choreographed as does Linda Hills with the dance numbers. And very appealing and accessible choreography it is, too.
The stage is very busy indeed. The whole space has been opened out from wing to wing with the Newfoundland location suggested by a few economical and oddly unaesthetic tree trunks.
Mark Oakley’s lighting plot plays a big part in creating the shades not only of the passing days but of the moods and, of course, the locations. Some scenes are in the sky. One is in the moonless wilderness. And then there is the great big cookout party; oh, such a party.
So here’s to the players, David Gauci, Dee Farnell, Stephen Tongun, Daniel Hamilton, Kate Anolak, Trevor Anderson, Josh Kerr, Michael Denholm, Brady Lloyd, Michelle Nightingale, Michelle Tan, Katie Packer, Eloise Quinn-Valentine, Lisa Simonetti, Claire McEvoy…too many to mention but one and all powerfully committed, disciplined and conveying a cross-section of the human condition.
Applause. Applause.
Samela Harris
When: 6 to 23 Aug
Where: Arts Theatre
Bookings: trybooking.com
