Cast of Brilliant Performers
Fly Us Away to Gander

Reviewed by Mary Alderson

Come From Away is certainly the best production we’ve seen on the Capitol Theatre’s stage since the Covid closure. It is essentially sold out, but if you call right now, you might be able to pick up a single seat here or there. Take it – don’t miss this show.

If you aren’t a theatre goer, and perhaps you haven’t heard about Come From Away, here’s the story:  Gander, Newfoundland is a quiet little town with a big, old airport. Originally, in the 1950s and 60s, it was a very busy refuelling stop for planes crossing the Atlantic, but with the advent of jets, the refuelling stop wasn’t needed. Suddenly, on September 11, 2001, after the terrorist attacks on New York’s World Trade Centre and the Pentagon, all the airspace over the USA was closed. Planes crossing the Atlantic were forced to land at the nearest airport. The sleepy Gander airport was suddenly called upon to take in 38 jumbo jets. The town didn’t have enough hotels for the onslaught of 7,000 passengers, so schools and community centres provided accommodations in Gander and surrounding villages, while local volunteers did the cooking.

This musical tells how the people of Gander welcomed visitors from around the world. The story is told with fun and humour, but also with respect for the differences in cultures. Most importantly, it is told with reverence for the seriousness of the situation. The young couple, Irene Sankoff and David Hein, who wrote the script, lyrics and music, handled the many stories they collected brilliantly. They created a great record of that special event, as well as a very entertaining piece of theatre.

This marks the sixth time I’ve seen Come From Away: I saw it with the original cast twice, and that production moved to Broadway. Then there was a wonderfully talented all-Canadian cast, who carried on through Covid interruptions, which I saw three times. This year, it was released for presentation in regional theatres, and many have jumped at the chance to present it – which is very fortunate for those of us in Port Hope.

So, what makes Come From Away so good?

1. Brilliant creation – The dialogue is natural and witty. There are many laugh-out-loud moments that you don’t see coming. The song lyrics further the story and the tunes range from catchy Newfoundland-party, Celtic-flavoured fun to amazing anthems. Sankoff & Hein collected anecdotes for months, pulling together the most compelling pieces and weaving them into a bigger saga.
2. Enthralling story-telling – I usually don’t like it when a character turns to the audience and narrates the story; I used to think that was a lazy way to further the plot and narrators broke the spell of watching the action unfold. I’ve changed my mind after seeing Come From Away. When the characters speak to the audience directly, they all have the knack of making us think they are good friends telling us their story. One thing that strikes me with this production, is how the Americans depicted in the story are immediately friends with the Canadians. I feel a bit of loss, realizing that it might not unfold in the same way today.
3. Talented cast – There are only 12 actors telling this entire story, each playing many parts, Newfoundlanders or come-from-aways. The accents are impressive – flipping from Newfoundland to Texan to European and back. Kyle Blair is easily one of the best musical theatre performers in Canada. With his involvement, the rest of the cast is lifted up a notch. He is sharing the stage with his husband, Kyle Golemba, a favourite at the Capitol. Fun fact: The two Kyles are playing the two Kevins! Another favourite pair in the cast are Donna Garner as Diane, and Scott Carmichael as Nick, the couple that falls in love in Gander. Monique Lund has fun as the airline passenger, belting a line from the Titanic. Annika Tupper has a couple of funny lines which she handles with solid comedic timing and a grin. The rest of the cast are all excellent in their multi-roles.
4. Impressive singing – For many of the tunes, the voices are loud and rousing, other times they are poignant and comforting, and then sometimes fearful. Julie Lumsden nails the big anthem “Me and the Sky”, the story of Beverley, the pilot’s, life. Kyle Blair sings a touching rendition of the old hymn “Make Me a Channel of Your Peace “and then he’s joined by Scott Carmichael as the Jewish man and Beau Dixon as the Muslim man. The combination of the three different religious songs is beautiful. Tat Austrie as Hannah singing “I Am Here” about not being there for her son, a New York City fireman, is beautifully presented and pulls your heartstrings.

I said this is the best show I’ve seen at the Capitol in recent years.  However, there are still glitches that need ironing out.  On opening night, there were a few lines that actors stumbled over, no doubt a result of the very short rehearsal time and the fact that they are playing many characters. The other problem at the Capitol is sound. When the entire cast is singing together, everything is good. However, when there are soloists, the instruments often drown out the lyrics. There are also instances when one soft-spoken performer cannot  be heard when she is speaking.

Nevertheless, director Rob Kempson has chosen a brilliant cast, and when combined with such a compelling story, Come From Away will be remembered for a long time. With this being the sixth time I’ve seen this show, you might think I would be immune to the emotional story. I found myself wiping tears throughout the 100 minutes. I cried first with sorrow over the horror of the terrorist attacks, then in sympathy with the travellers whose journeys were rudely interrupted, then for the overwhelming kindness the plane people were shown, and finally with pride in our fellow Canadians, the wonderful people of Newfoundland.  Never has so much emotion been packed into one theatre production.

Come From Away continues at the Capitol Theatre in Port Hope until August 9, 2026. Tickets are available at the box office by calling 905-885-1071 or visiting https://capitoltheatre.com/

Photo: The cast of Come From Away at the Newfoundland Kitchen Party. Photo by Sam Moffatt.

Come From Away
Book, Music & Lyrics by Irene Sankoff & David Hein
Directed by Rob Kempson
Choreography by Genny Sermonia
Music Directed by Jeff Newberry
Performed by Donna Garner, Tat Austrie, Annika Tupper, Monique Lund, Melissa Payne, Julie Lumsden, Beau Dixon, Kyle Blair, Kyle Golemba, Charlie Clark, Brendan Wall, and Scott Carmichael
Stage Manager: Hannah MacMillan
Dialect Coach: Alison Deon
Sound Designer: Emily Porter
Set Designer: Brandon Kleiman
Costume Designer: Joyce Padua
Lighting Designer: Siobhan Sleath
Musicians: Haneul Yi, Tom Leighton, David Schotzko, Plus cast members
Capitol Theatre, 20 Queen St., Port Hope, ON
July 10 extended to August 9, 2026
Reviewed by Mary Alderson