Let’s cut to the chase: Come from Away is a musical of infinite grandeur. Camped on the sidelines of the attacks of September 11, 2001, it proves that benevolence and humanity can overshadow the greatest tragedies, if only for one evening.
They are thousands. They all come from afar, from all over the world. And in the wake of the attacks of September 11, 2001, they land in the small community of Gander, Newfoundland, when the 38 planes responsible for carrying them to their destination are redirected to Canada.
The small community, hitherto uneventful, will have to redouble its kindness, ingenuity and solidarity to welcome these 7,000 foreigners. And that is what they will do – and with open arms – in a torrent of unparalleled benevolence and humanity whose story, even after two decades, continues to move.
It is this rather unusual story that is at the center of Come from Away. Because if the starting point of this musical is the tragedy that struck New York, its plot is entirely set in Gander, far from the twin towers. Fortunately. Because it is thousands of kilometers from the big apple that the story finds all its power.
Against a current
But beware : Come from Away does not follow the classic formula of musicals that have crowds running on Broadway. Gone are the catchy refrains, the tenacious earworms, the spectacular choreographies and the usual outbursts. With its folk rhythms, its simple scenography – but oh so effective! – and its rudimentary costume changes, the show spawns off the beaten path.
It is therefore not necessarily the songs that inhabit us at the end of a performance, but rather this intoxicating breath of hope that emanates from Come from Away. Because, in the end, the show reminds us that light can spring from the darkest of shadows. A very important reminder, and one that does so much good to the soul.
Musical comedy Come from Away is presented at Place des Arts in Montreal until Sunday. Performances are in English.