A reality check on how life can change drastically in a matter of seconds.
La Jolla Playhouse kicks off 2015-2016 season
Article by Alejandra Enciso Guzmán
Gander is a town in Canada, pertaining to the province of Newfoundland and Labrador. With a population of approximately 11,000 people. On September 11, 2001 the events that shook the world, took Gander by surprise ‘in situ’ when 38 planes were diverted to the small city, resulting in about 6,700 passengers from all over. The ‘plane people’ did not know what had happened, where they were or what was going to happen. Gander locals as well as the mayor, quickly rehabilitated shelters and even their homes, to accommodate the unexpected guests.
I love when stuff like this happens in which a historic event and the performing arts are combined. It not only brings awareness to real facts, it reaches even deeper creatively, gaining a stronger impact and feel.
Come from Away, accomplished that. La Jolla Playhouse’s season opener and worldwide premiere musical, now playing at the Sheila and Hughes Potiker Theatre is a touching/inspiring piece with book, music and lyrics by award-winning husband-and-wife team David Hein and Irene Sankoff, directed by Playhouse Artistic Director Christopher Ashley. When conversations about 9/11 come up, people usually start remembering where they were and what they were doing that day. This musical will take you there in a heartbeat with an added bonus of, a glimpse of what these ‘plane people’ went through. From the time they landed, to their stay and bonding with the Gander citizens to the point of goodbye, going back to each reality. The twelve person cast is integrated by: Petrina Bromley, Geno Carr, Jenn Colella, Chad Kimball, Joel Hatch, Rodney Hicks, Lee MacDougall, Allison Spratt Pearce, Caesar Samayoa, Q. Smith, Astrid Van Wieren, Sharon Wheatley, with Amanda Naughton and Michael Turner as understudies.
Performed with a continuous pace and settled in a one hour and 40 minute act, was the best way to approach it being the latent suspense this story embodies. Capturing each individual from a firefighter’s mom who is desperately waiting for news regarding her son to a scared family that does not speak English. All united by a –delay– that marked their lives.
Music, music, music!!!!
With orchestrations by August Eriksmoen and additional musical arrangements by Ian Eisendrath, the folksy, Celtic style rhythm will have audiences tapping the floor. Beowulf Boritt’s scenic design, shows a combination of the town’s everyday activity between the police station and the locals’ hangout café, intelligently resolving the use of the space with ‘dancing chairs’ that created an airplane passenger aisle. An interaction of different set outs that greatly illustrated Gander’s routine are the planes’ arrivals and the improvised shelters.
Jenn Colella is magical, narrating ‘Beverly’ the pilot’s story with her angelical high ranged voice. Astrid Van Wieren’s open hearted portrayal of shelter ‘mamma’ Beulah will produce goosebumps to all. Coming back to the playhouse after a ‘Memphis’ Tony nominating whirlwind is Chad Kimball, playing ‘Colin 1’ a young gay entrepreneur who will experience a few status stages while in Gander…
This musical detonates thought and gives hope. A reality check on how life can change drastically in a matter of seconds. Good, bad, judgement and most importantly benevolence. Something that day to day gets lost between the social media, the media and the hassle… I mean hustle of the everyday.
Come From Away has been extended twice by popular demand, now playing until Sunday July 12th with two Matinees added on 7/3 @ 2pm and 7/8 @ 2pm. For more information on show times, dates and surrounding events please call (858) 550-1010 or go to: http://www.lajollaplayhouse.org/come-from-away
Photo credit: Jenn Colella (left) and the cast of La Jolla Playhouse’s world-premiere musical COME FROM AWAY, book, music and lyrics by Irene Sankoff and David Hein, directed by Christopher Ashley, running May 29 – July 12 in the Sheila and Hughes Potiker Theatre; photo by Kevin Berne.
