Welcome to the Rock. No, not Rock Island...well, it is a rock island but I’m talking about the rock island of Newfoundland, specifically the little town of Gander, population approximately 10,000, which made a massive impression on the entire world when it became the host to 38 incoming flights from Europe on September 11, 2001 after the terrorist attacks on the USA that caused our government to completely shut down its air space, effectively stranding about 7,000 people and leaving in its wake a world stunned by both by the horror of the day but equally by the generosity exhibited by the people of Gander. Think about it...7,000 souls to house, feed, and entertain most of whom didn’t know why they were being grounded in a place they never heard of because that information was initially withheld so as not to panic the passengers. An interesting side note is that Gander was chosen because during World War II, it was a major military airport that they had never gotten around to changing.
Those real life acts of compassion were chronicled by investigative reporter Jim Defede in his book The Day the World Came to Town, which I read in preparation to see the show. His book was adapted for the stage (book, music and lyrics) by the Canadian husband and wife team of David Hein and Irene Sankoff and is currently playing at Circa 21 Playhouse, directed by Seth Reines and which, hopefully, explains my introduction because the opening number in the show is “Welcome to the Rock.” After reading the book I couldn’t wait to see the show to see how it was adapted for the stage and to see which of the potentially hundreds of stories would make the cut. Believe me...it is superbly done.
You might think that a show surrounding the tragic events of 9/11 would be depressing...if so, you couldn’t be more wrong. In a FaceBook posting Circa 21 summarized it perfectly. It read: “it’s also a day to remember how we came together. How strangers helped strangers. How kindness showed up in unexpected ways. And how art, music, stories, theatre – helped us make sense of it all. Shows like Come from Away remind us that even in the darkest moments there’s still light. Still hope. Still humanity. Art doesn’t fix everything, but it helps us feel connected and heal. And that matters.”
This 13 member ensemble cast delivers a jumbo jet performance – each having a key character in the story but filling in with multiple other characters, both passengers and townies. The songs are touching (“Prayer”), heart-wrenching (“Lead Us Out of the Night”), inspiring (“Welcome to the Rock”), uplifting (“Me and the Sky”) and, yes, even hilarious (“Screech In”) as the town folk work out accommodating all those people. They literally created an experience those passengers will never forget...and, one of those passengers lives right here in Rock Island.
The set is stunning in its simplicity and is even a subtle 14th cast member. There is only a backdrop of horizontal boards stained in several different colors similar to ship lap on which is hung a large cut-out map of the US and Canada, and a dozen chairs. None of the chairs are alike but come together to support the show...just like the passengers aboard those planes came together on that fateful day.
Costuming by Bradley Robert Jensen is simple and expertly versatile to subtly suggest the multiple changes each actor needs to morph in and out of the characters they portray.
This show is just the antidote to the political upheaval our country is currently experiencing and you will leave the theatre full of hope for the future.
Come from Away continues at Circa ‘21 Dinner Playhouse, 1828 – 3rd Avenue in Rock Island through November 1 with matinee performances on Wednesdays, evening performances Wednesdays, Fridays, and Saturdays and Dinner performances on Sundays. And, great news, the massive street construction in front of the theatre has been completed.