Following runs on Broadway and the West End, international productions, and a US tour, award-winning musical Come From Away is finally flying around the UK and Ireland – and it is landing at the Lowry in time for Christmas. The tour began performances earlier this month, ahead of an exclusive showcase event at the Lowry this week.
Come From Away is a based on the events in the Newfoundland town of Gander (Canada) during the week following the September 11 attacks, when 38 planes (including one from Manchester), carrying approximately 7,000 passengers, were ordered to land unexpectedly at Gander International Airport. The characters in the musical are based on actual Gander residents and stranded travellers they housed and fed.
The showcase took place in the Lowry’s Compass Room, a glass room held for all sorts of events, including weddings. The Lowry’s Head of Theatre Operations, Steve Cowton, welcomed the audience and Manchester’s own Michelle Eagleton, who hosted the event.
The event kicked off with the whole cast performing the anthemic opening number ‘Welcome to the Rock’.
Next, Eagleton interviewed producer John Brant of Smith & Brant Theatricals, who saw the original production in La Jolla, California and brought it to the UK. They were then joined by actors Bree Smith (Hannah & Others), Mark Dugdale (Kevin T, Garth & Others), and Sara Poyzer (Beverley, Annette & Others).
Poyzer discussed her main song – and perhaps the musical’s best-loved number – ‘Me and the Sky’, which she later sang with the other female characters. Brant told us that the song is essentially a verbatim interview with the real Beverley Bass – and he did not find this out until about four years in!
Dugdale, who appeared in the original production, said that after a performance in Liverpool, the cast went to a pub where they bumped into some locals who had been on a plane that went to Gander – with Brant revealing that one of the 38 planes was from Manchester.
Come From Away is noted for its simplicity, with a static set and very few prop pieces. Instead, the production makes great use of chairs to establish different settings and locations. Michelle revealed that Brant calls this “chairography”, before telling the cast (who were sat by the stage) that they should have done something with their chairs!
Another notable aspect of this show is the distinctive Gander accents. Smith admitted to finding it tricky because she plays a character from New York (an iconic accent) and a character from Gander – she removes her glasses and suddenly she’s a native New Yorker! Dugdale, an Irishman, said that he finds it hard because the Newfoundland accent is so heavily influenced by the Irish accent.
The musical is also distinguishable by its fast-pacing (it runs 1 hour 40 minutes with no interval). Smith told us that the musical is so go-go-go so there is not much time to clap – the audience clap after the first number, one other number, and then at the end – so the audience go wild at the end.
After this, the women treated us to a roaring rendition of ‘Me and the Sky’. Poyzer is sensational!
We were then treated to lunch (sausages – fitting). Gifts included maple syrup (fabulously on the nose).
This lovely launch got Come From Away virgins excited to finally see it this Christmas; it got those of us who saw it on the West End (like yours truly) excited to see it again; and it got those who have seen it multiple times excited to see it on their home turf.
Come From Away is currently touring the UK and Ireland until January 5, with more dates to be announced. It runs at the Lowry (Lyric Theatre) from December 3 to January 5.
Photo: Phil Tragen
JADAR 