Review: Come From Away, Montgomery Theatre, Sheffield

It’s the 25th anniversary of the events of 9/11 so a very appropriate time for Ellesmere MTC to present Come From Away. When 9/11 happened, airways were cleared and 38 planes were diverted to Gander, Newfoundland in Canada. The local community famously worked together to house and care for all the stranded passengers – the ‘Come From Aways’ – until it was safe for them to leave. It’s one of the most moving and heartwarming events of the 21st century and reinforces the reputation that Canadians enjoy for being just lovely.

As the audience enters, a TV news programme is playing with mundane interviews, road reports, adverts, sports. Nothing special is happening today. The set is an empty space using chairs to create different scenes. As the show begins, the news changes to 8.46am on 11 September 2001 and each actor tells the audience how that day started for them. There was a slight issue with sound balance at the start of tonight’s performance, with dialogue difficult to hear over the music, but this greatly improved as the show progressed so is hopefully resolved for the rest of the run.

This is a complex show with just twelve actors playing multiple roles in the professional production. Director Thomas Fox-Owens has boldly chosen to remain faithful to the original which is a huge ask for an amateur company. He was right, though, and these twelve very talented amateur performers absolutely deliver. They switch characters seamlessly; they rearrange chairs slickly and unobtrusively; they handle the difficult Newfoundland accent well, and their singing is first rate. The ensemble singing in particular is a joy. The harmonising is tight and full, the complex countermelodies are crisp and clear. A highlight is ‘Prayer’ where the cast sings multiple religious songs to represent all the religions of the different nationalities, and they blend beautifully into one really moving harmonious sound.

The acting is first rate too. The ensemble plays both the Gander community and the stranded passengers. As passengers stuck on a plane for hours, not knowing what is happening, the nervousness and sense of claustrophobia is palpable. The choreography devised by Amber Alison Lee and Lily Abram is clever and well executed and adds to the tension. When the passengers are allowed off the plane and are shown the footage of the World Trade Center terrorism, the audience shares the shock of seeing it again. It’s still very powerful 25 years later.

Every single cast member is spot-on in their characterisations. Bethan Griffiths as Captain Beverley Bass sings ‘Me and the Sky’ with power and emotion. Mark Holmes displays a deft comic touch in his many roles. The story arc between Nick and Diane (Craig Lawton and Gina Holmes) is captivating and heartwarming. The friendship between Beulah (Louise Walker) and Hannah (Sarah Morrell) is entirely believable. I have seen the show before and know how Hannah’s story ends, but Morrell’s performance still made me cry.

The band is on stage throughout, dressed in costume and integrated into the plot several times which works well in this show. Led by Gareth Lloyd, these ten instrumentalists enhance the friendly, folky feel of Gander. It is this heartwarming emotion, bringing strangers together, that drives this production. And being presented in a single act with no interval only adds to the intensity. Bearing witness to such a powerful true story, presented so well, will stay with you as you leave the theatre.

Book, Music and Lyrics by Irene Sankoff and David Hein
Directed by Thomas Fox-Owens
Choreographed by Amber Alison Lee and Lily Abram
Musical Direction by Gareth Lloyd
Lighting design by TD Lighting
Sound by PM Productions

Come From Away plays at the Montgomery Theatre, Sheffield, until Saturday 17 October.