Come From Away

On July 16th Frank and I went with another couple, to see the musical Come from Away live, on stage, in person, at the San Jose Center for the Performing Arts. We'd been holding on to these tickets for about two years. The original performance had been cancelled and rescheduled due to COVID-19. The musical is based upon a true Sept 11, 2001 story that occurred in the small  Newfoundland town of Gander.

The first time I learned of this event was during a filler interest story during the televised Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City in February of 2002. I was fascinated with the tale and when I learned a musical had been made based on the story and interviews with many of the passengers and townsmen involved in the event, I knew I had to see it. A quick summary is that when the FAA decided to shut down its airspace after the attack on the twin towers of New York on 9/11, 4,000 planes were forced to land at the nearest airport. The airport in Gander, Netherlands accepted 38 planes carrying 6,579 passengers and crew. For a town like Gander, with a population of 10,000 people, this was an extraordinary challenge to take on. The residents all pulled together to support, house and feed the stranded, displaced, and frightened passengers in a dire time of uncertainty.

It was enjoyable to be out and to watch something live, other than on a computer screen. The music was lively and the performers animated. The sensation of feeling their stomping on stage and the beating of the percussion was fantastic and so welcome, better than any virtual adaptation. We had great seats in the third row center so yes, we were close enough we felt it vibrating through our bones. No paper ticket  handling though, only images off our cell phone and we wore masks throughout the intermission-free performance.

This website for the musical has a timeline and more details; this YouTube link is a sample of the rousing songs. Both links are worth looking at. I strongly recommend seeing this musical. I enjoyed it immensely. To see the potential realized for people of all different races and creeds to get along and help one another was gratifying. The staging is minimal; it does not distract from the heartfelt, genuine tale being told. Spending 100 minutes observing the good in people emerge is an excellent expenditure of time and money. Go see Come From Away if you are able.