Review: Come From Away
Picture: A well-deserved curtain call for the cast of Come From Away (image credit: Creative Futures Photography).
Congratulations to the Savoyards creatives and cast on a superb addition to their portfolio. If you can still buy tickets, I strongly suggest catching Come From Away before the end of the current Savoyards run, as this is a one-act musical that reminds us that in the very darkest of times people can come together and show the best of humanity.
During the 11th September 2001 terrorist attack (‘9/11’), all remaining planes in the air were ordered to land immediately. 38 aircraft were diverted to the small Gander International Airport, providing a significant challenge for the surrounding Newfoundland communities. Come From Away tells the remarkable true story of over 6,500 people who were in the air when the twin towers were hit, and of the 9,000 people in the local Gander communities who took care of them.
There are some uncomfortable moments revealed in the Come From Away story: passengers were required to remain on the grounded aircraft for many hours and were provided with little information, everyone was thoroughly checked with several individuals undergoing extensive interviews and searches, and no one could access their hold baggage. But there are also so many moments of joy, humour, compassion, goodwill, and understanding. All of which makes Come From Away a must-see musical.
There are so many creative highlights in this show, masterfully directed by Andrew Cockroft-Penman. Come From Away benefits from probably the best instrumental work I have heard in a Savoyards production, so congratulations also to Musical Director Steven Days and Band. The staging is excellent; placing the orchestra in a semi-circle onstage helps create the sense of warm and welcoming community Cèilidh or pub gathering, where the musicians are often a key part of the action. The costuming and set are deceptively simple, allowing for easy switches from kitchen to plane, and from bus to community hall. The lighting design is exceptional—with special moments including the bus journeys along dark roads, and the spotlighting of the bereaved mother (Chloe Harrison, Lighting Design). Finally, choreography and movement are a joy to watch, where chairs and tables are used as key props for buses, community halls, planes and more (Kaitlin Hague, Choreographer).
Savoyards has also attracted a strong cast for this production of Come From Away, which is vital as each of the 12 talented cast members are required to take on key roles and to act as the chorus of minor characters (Jason Kiger, Jenna Murphy, Carolyn Latter, Mike Zarate, Priya Shah, Jackie Fredericksen, Natalie Lennox, Joshua Langdon, Mark Rickell, Rushad Katrak, Lonnie Toia and Vanessa Wainwright). I don’t know how often the Swings (Maree Butterworth, Kyle Fenwick, and Beth Lowe) will have had the opportunity to perform during the run, but I am guessing they deserve a particular round of applause, as having just three understudies/swings for 12 roles will have been hard work.
Each member of the cast had the opportunity to make us laugh or cry. Unfair to highlight a few of the performances, but Jason Kiger was excellent in the leading role of Claude, I loved Carolyn Latter’s portrayal of Beulah, Priya Shah charmed and amused us in the role of Janice, and hearts broke for Vanessa Wainwright’s Hannah. Special mention also for the unfolding love story between the awkward ‘Brit’ and American passengers, thanks to the great comic timing and beautiful work by Natalie Lennox (Diane) and Joshua Langdon (Nick), including a fabulous ‘Stop The World’ duet.
I also sure that every member of the audience will have had favourite musical moments. Aside from ‘Stop The World,’ my top picks are the Band’s closing ‘Screech Out,’ the ‘38 Planes (Reprise)/Somewhere in the Middle of Nowhere,‘ and the full cast ‘Welcome to the Rock’ and ‘Finale.’
I do have one big ‘but’ for this production. Come From Away is a text-heavy musical, which means that there is a lot to cover in the 105 minutes of this excellent show, and the hard-working cast members have a lot to say and sing. Sadly there were several problems with sound throughout the show: solo lines were lost due to missed sound cues or low sound levels, and the dominant bass notes meant that many of the soloists’ voices were too far away in the mix (for example, in some of Jackie Fredericksen’s key numbers). It is great to see that the Savoyards team is making provision for the diverse needs of members of the audience, as the 28th June matinee included the work of two talented Auslan interpreters. However, a captioning service might benefit all members of the audience—even if just for one performance in the run.
The Savoyards Come From Away is a poignant uplifting fast-paced celebration of the power of humanity—in stark contrast to the attacks that led to the diversion and grounding of the plans in the first place. Be prepared for the personal flashbacks to a time of global shock, distress, and fear—and be ready to be entertained.
Audience information: The Savoyards production of Come From Away has only 7 shows (21 June - 5 July 2025), at the IONA Performing Arts Centre. 85 North Rd, Lindum QLD 4178. 105+ minutes, with no interval. All ages (suggest 12+). Some bright lights and occasional loud noises. Tickets $30-58, plus fees (family tickets for 2 adults & 2 children, $149).
Credits: Book, Music and Lyrics by Irene Sankoff and David Hein. Licensed exclusively by Music Theatre international (Australasia). Original Production Elements utilized for this production of Come From Away were provided by Christopher Ashley (Direction), Kelly Devine (Musical Staging and Choreography), Beowulf Boritt (Scenic Design), Toni-Leslie James (Costume Design), Howell Binkley (Lighting Design) and Gareth Owen (Sound Design)
The reviewer attended the Saturday 28 June 2025 Auslan-interpreted matinee (1:30pm).