Come From Away at Birmingham Hippodrome Review
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Tue 21 May 2024 - Sat 01 Jun 2024
Making a musical around the devastating events of the September 11 terrorist attacks is no easy feat.
Come From Away has done just that and picked up some of the most coveted theatre awards. Now Birmingham audiences get the chance to see if this show really is that special.
Come From Away runs at Birmingham Hippodrome until Saturday, June 1 and I caught it early on. It's set in the tiny Newfoundland town of Gander where islanders are suddenly besieged by an influx of airplanes making emergency landings when the 9/11 attacks happen.
Based on a true story, the town doubles in size as locals go out of their way to give 7,000 stranded strangers accommodation, food, drink and kindness at such a scary time. Stuck in Canada over five days while American air space is shut down, there's various compelling passenger stories that overlap.
Doubling up as both the townfolk and 'plane people', there's a small, finely tuned and impeccable cast. Some are beautiful singers, others bring out the unlikely comedy of the situation and then there's the quirky and sentimental, making the whole thing so wonderfully well-rounded.
Among the snapshot of stories is animal lover Bonnie (Rosie Glossop), rescuing forgotten creatures on board the 38 diverted planes from dogs to chimpanzees. Then there's the comical gay couple Kevin and Kevin (Jamal Zulfiqar and Mark Dugdale) and suspicious New Yorker Bob (Dale Mathurin) who learns to love the Newfoundland ways.
It's carefully done with the terror attacks not mentioned in detail in the early part of the show. It's around one hour 40 minutes long with no interval but that flies by and keeps the momentum going.
The real joy in
Come From Away is its constant humour. It deftly balances a tightrope of happiness alongside heartbreak that doesn't feel in any way schmaltzy or forced. There's even a touch of romance in this thoroughly life-affirming musical.
Bringing many of the laughs are the well-meaning mayor(Nicholas Pound) and community worker Beulah (Amanda Henderson) while the burgeoning attraction between middle-aged passengers Diane (Kirsty Hoiles) and Nick (Daniel Crowder) slowly builds, offering hope amongst the sorrow.
It constantly shows the best of the human spirit at the worst of times with a gloriously uplifting raw soundtrack.
Musicians with a drum, fiddle, accordion, guitar and the like are hidden away but get a chance to shine in the final scene. Raucous, toe-tapping songs start with
Welcome To The Rock and continue grasping everyone's heart with tracks like
Somewhere In The Middle Of Nowhere.
There's a lot of fun and laughter but also a sentiment that gives a suitable nod to the devastation. No more so than the plight of anxious Hannah (Bree Smith), the mother of a missing New York firefighter whose story hits hard. There's also Egyptian chef Ali who is suddenly treated with suspicion and as an outsider for being Muslim.
But on the whole, this excellent show directed by Christopher Ashley is uplifting and joyous. It's overflowing with memorable characters by writers Irene Sankoff and David Hein with cracking new songs to boot.
Come From Away has won accolades including four Olivier Awards and a Tony Award and after seeing it I totally understand why.
It's clever, heartfelt and thoroughly emotional. You'll laugh but also cry and it feels wonderful.
Come From Away is a musical masterpiece of our time. If you don't see this beautiful show, you'll regret it.
Rating: 5 out of 5 stars.
Tickets for
Come From Away from the
Birmingham Hippodrome website here cost £25. It runs until Saturday, June 1.
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#theatre_shows 286621 - 2024-05-20 19:44:12