Finally after what seems forever, theatres have reopened and what better way to celebrate this than seeing the 4 time Olivier Award wining Come From Away at the Phoenix Theatre!
Come From Away is set in the week following the devastating September 11 attacks in America (which I can’t believe happened 20 years ago next week!) it tells the true story of the 38 planes which were ordered to land unexpectedly in the small Canadian town of Gander, when US airspace was closed due to the attacks.
It tells the story of how the Newfoundland community welcomed 7,000 stranded strangers with open arms into there homes, and how the attack changed some lives for better and some sadly for the worst.
The show is made up of a cast of only 12 actors, all of which play 2+ characters (stranded passengers & the townspeople of Gander) on a very simple yet effective set which consists of 12 chairs which interchange from bar stool to cockpit depending on the character. Sometimes it takes me a little while to get my head around simple stages, and trying to envisage what the actors are trying to portray (e.g. a moving plane) but I had no problems during this show, it was fantastic and I was transfixed.
Jenna Boyd plays Beulah (who works at the school) but it’s the stranded passenger character she plays which had me in fits of laughter, I’m pretty sure she had a Liverpudlian accent but I couldn’t really work out any of the accents if I’m honest, accents are not my forte. But look out for the Titanic scene and karaoke!
Talking of laughs, Mark Dugdale & Jonathan Andrew Hume play the two gay Kevin’s who are hilarious (slightly stereotypical at times but still very funny) this duos relationship is tested during there unplanned visit to Gander and you’ll find yourself wondering if they are meant to be or not?
When someone mentions a musical, you always think of an associated song e.g. if someone said Les Misérables, I’d say “One Day More”. Come From Away there isn’t that one song, but for me the most memorable song, and the one I find myself still singing a day later is “I Am Here” sung by the incredible Gemma Knight Jones who plays Hannah, she honestly gave me goosebumps.
Current London cast consists of Jenna Boyd as Beulah, James Doherty as Claude, Mary Doherty as Bonnie, Mark Dugdale as Kevin T, Alice Fearn as Beverley, Kate Graham as Diane, Alasdair Harvey as Nick, Jonathan Andrew Hume as Kevin J, Gemma Knight Jones as Hannah, Harry Morrison as Oz, Sam Oladeinde as Bob & Emma Salvo as Janice (all of whose play other characters).
Come From Away is relatively short, 100 minutes with no interval and plays at The Phoenix Theatre, London (currently) through to February 2022. Book tickets via London Box Office for no booking fees. Recommended age is 10+.
COVID requirements:
– Full vaccination (first and second dose), and with the second dose administered at least 14 days before your visit; or
– A negative lateral flow test taken within 48 hours of your visit; or
– Proof of natural immunity (positive PCR test within the last six months, after self-isolation has ended and up to 180 days after taking the test).
Press Trip / Gifted