Come From Away – A Joyous and Touching Canadian Tale (Early Review)

In 2017, Irene Sankoff and David Hein’s musical Come From Away debuted on Broadway and became an instant success. The production earned several Tony nominations and received near-unanimous praise from critics and audiences alike. While many American Broadway fans consider the musical to be one of the defining musicals of the late 2010s, the way Canadians responded to the production was unrivalled.

Come From Away is undisputedly the longest-running Canadian musical in Broadway history and has been playing in Toronto’s Royal Alexandra Theatre ever since it debuted. The musical may only be a couple of years old and yet, it already feels like it is an important part of Canada’s identity. Its story is deeply rooted in Canadian culture, serving as a demonstration of our country’s greatest qualities therefore it was exciting once it was announced that Apple TV+ would be adding a live stage recording of the production to their roster for the whole world to watch.

The production tells the story of select individuals from a group of 7000 airplane passengers who were stranded in a small town in Newfoundland, Canada, for weeks following the events of 9/11. The musical explores how these individuals were impacted by the immense generosity displayed by the locals, who put their lives on hold to make the passengers feel at home. Come From Away is a powerful reminder of why human connection and kindness are so important and a display of the very best that humanity has to offer.

Sankoff and Hein don’t shy away from exploring the tragedy that was 9/11 and the suffering that it caused. It captures the horrors of that day perfectly and how that event affected people all around the world, not just in the U.S. However, it is also a story of love and hope, showing how a group of strangers were able to come together in a time of need and connect on a deep level. From a musical standpoint, the songwriting is nothing short of outstanding, as each individual song is full of life and tells a compelling story. Sankoff and Hein take influence from Newfoundland folk music, making each song feel distinctly Canadian.

The world may be currently living through another colossal event on a global scale that has impacted millions in one way or another. With the world coming out of a year long quarantine and slowly regaining a sense of normalcy, many strive for human connection. The musical’s release is the perfect time as tits message is extremely relevant and is sure to move people on a deeper level than it would have even a few years ago.

With theatre in Canada still closed indefinitely, Christopher Ashley’s recording of the production is a perfect way to experience this incredible story from the comfort of your own living room. Just like last year’s recording of Hamilton, the energy and emotion that Come From Away boasts on stage translates perfectly to the screen.

While there is something special about seeing a production preformed live, Come From Away is proof that a recording can certainly do a musical justice.

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Tristan French