Come From Away is based on the remarkable true story of an isolated community called Gander in Newfoundland, who played host to the world. What started as an average day in a small town turned into an international sleepover when 38 planes, carrying thousands of people from around the globe, were diverted to Gander’s airstrip on September 11, 2001. Undaunted by culture clashes and language barriers, the people of Gander cheered the stranded travellers with music, an open bar and the recognition that we’re all part of a global family.
I already knew of Come From Away from its West End stint, so I was particularly interested to see how Viva Arts and Community Group would take such a well-known musical and make it work at the Edinburgh Fringe.
And this is certainly an ambitious production to bring to the Fringe.
The start was a bit of a fumble in the dark. It took a little while for the production to find its footing and settle into its rhythm. However, it soon warmed up, and once it did, the confidence of the company began to shine through.
With such a large cast on a relatively compact Fringe stage, this must have been quite a logistical undertaking. In fact, I don’t think I’ve seen another Fringe production this year with so many actors on stage. Inevitably, that meant there wasn’t a huge amount of room available for elaborate scenery.
But it didn’t need it.
The few pieces of scenery and props they did have were enough to establish the setting without unnecessarily crowding the stage. With a story such as this, the performers themselves need to remain at the heart of the production.
Vocally, not all of the singing voices were completely consistent, but the majority were strong. Certain performers gave particularly rousing performances, and some of the songs were sung beautifully. When the company came together, there were moments where the scale of the cast really worked in the production’s favour and gave the musical numbers an impressive amount of energy.
What particularly came across was the happiness and eagerness of the performers. There was a genuine love of performing visible on that stage, and that enthusiasm helped carry the production.
The production was presented to a high standard. The pacing was handled well and the direction successfully managed a very large cast within the limitations of the performance space. Keeping that number of performers moving while ensuring the story remains understandable is no small achievement.
Most importantly, however, I felt the company honoured the real story of Gander and the people caught up in the events surrounding the September 11 attacks.
The production doesn’t simply focus on the extraordinary generosity shown by the people of Newfoundland. It also deals with the emotions experienced by those passengers suddenly stranded thousands of miles from where they expected to be. We see anxiety, anger, relief and vulnerability, alongside the warmth and humanity at the centre of the story.
That balance is important. There is joy and humour here, but the production never forgets why those 38 planes arrived in Gander in the first place.
I really enjoyed seeing what Viva Arts and Community Group achieved with Come From Away. It’s ambitious, energetic and performed by a company whose enthusiasm for being on stage is wonderfully apparent.
There may be some inconsistencies, particularly vocally, and the opening could settle more quickly, but these didn’t prevent this from becoming an overall successful and thoroughly enjoyable production.
A strong four stars.
★★★★ 4 Stars
An ambitious, energetic production that honours the remarkable real story at its heart
https://www.edfringe.com/tickets/whats-on/come-from-away
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