Review: Come From Away

🌟VERDICT’S PICK🌟

There is not a musical out there that will have you laughing through tears as much as Come From Away. Based on the true story of the 7,000 passengers diverted on 38 planes to the small town of Gander, Newfoundland (pop. 9,000) following the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, this joyous and deeply human musical is a celebration of kindness, generosity, and community. In the face of fear and uncertainty, it shows how strangers from around the world can come together and become family.

Come From Away at Paper Mill Playhouse

Director and choreographer Richard J. Hinds is no stranger to this musical; he was the associate choreographer of the original Broadway and international replica productions. In this new version of the show, he retains many of the elements that endeared it to audiences while also crafting a production that confidently stands on its own, full of surprises. The set, designed by Nate Bertone, is just about as different from the Broadway design as possible. Where that production favored minimalism, Bertone’s set goes all out. Wall panels opened, bartops slid in, a massive staircase moved across the stage, and even wall adornments transformed into screens projecting simple graphics to help tell the story. In addition, this production was much more literal; instead of moving a “grill” that was actually a chair, the character now utilizes an actual prop barbecue. I rather enjoyed these choices, which turned the show into a bigger, fuller production. There was also a beautiful tribute paid to the Twin Towers through the lighting rigs on the edges of the stage which were lit during some of the most emotional moments of the show. While I am a massive fan of the original Broadway staging, I appreciate the simplicity of that version and the grandeur of this one equally, using the former only as a reference point rather than a benchmark.

Perhaps my favorite element of this production was the use of actor-musicians. Ever since I saw Benjamin Button in London this summer, I thought that Come From Away would make a fantastic actor-musician show, and this version did not disappoint! While they still have a dedicated orchestra behind the set, each cast member played at least one instrument throughout the show, with some playing multiple. Even though it was obvious that not the entire cast was necessarily comfortable with an instrument, Hinds and music director Sam Groissner did a great job including everyone. A special shoutout must be given to Lisa Helmi Johanson, who not only portrayed a wonderful Janice, but also impressively played the piano, accordion, and especially the violin, on which she had some truly beautiful solos.

The cast of Come From Away

The show, with book, music, and lyrics by the Canadian married writing duo Irene Sankoff and David Hein, is told through only a few of the thousands of stories from the “plane people” and the Ganderites over those five days. Beulah (a warm and motherly Lisa Howard), a teacher at Gander Academy, organizes the school for guests and later befriends Hannah (the heartbreaking Rema Webb), a worried mother unable to reach her son, a firefighter in Manhattan. Webb has a beautiful solo, “I Am Here,” in which she laments her distance from her son, and reminds the audience that while the plane people are safe and well cared for in Newfoundland, there are family members at home whom they may never see again. That sentiment is also shared by Bob (Jason Tyler Smith), a New Yorker who feels guilty being safe and cared for while his father and his city are suffering without him. 

There are certainly many uplifting moments throughout the show as well. Come From Away chronicles the life of American Airlines captain Beverley Bass, AA’s first female pilot, who happened to be stranded. Portraying her, Jeannette Bayardelle delivered one of the most powerful renditions of “Me and the Sky” I have heard, belting her way through the song with a uniquely soulful, almost gospel-like tone. There is also Mayor Claude Elliot (charmingly played by James Moye), reporter Janice Mosher (Lisa Helmi Johanson), Constable Oz Fudge (Nick Gaswirth), and SPCA worker Bonnie Harris (Erica Spyers) who help tell the behind the scenes stories of how the town was organized and people and pets cared for. Perhaps my favorite story to come out of this show is that of Nick and Diane Marson, total strangers who met and fell in love over the five days in Canada. Played by Kent Lewis and Andréa Burns respectively, the two have the heart-wrenching duet “Stop the World,” which is the epitome of living in the moment as they realize they

will have to go their separate ways (spoiler alert: they reconnect soon after and marry!). Finally, there is the story of Kevin J. and Kevin T. (John El-Jor and David Socolar), partners worried about how Canadians might see their relationship, but are quick to realize that they are welcomed into the town with open arms, no matter their identities. El-Jor also plays Ali, an Egyptian, Muslim man, viewed with a wary eye by the rest of the passengers, showing the emergence of the Islamophobia that would follow for the next decade and beyond. 

Come From Away

Perhaps the most striking scene in the show, and my favorite in every production of Come From Away that I have seen, is the song “Prayer.” It shows the intertwining of religious faiths from around the world through song, led by Kevin T. singing the “Prayer of St. Francis.” As the song progresses, we hear a Hebrew and Hindu prayer, before all three faiths overlap in a beautiful swell of music as these strangers from around the world and of different religions all come together through faith and music. This number is the perfect representation of the show’s message of community, and never fails to leave me in tears by the end. 

There truly isn’t anything negative to say about this production. Everything from the cast to the design brings this show to life and it is a must-see for anyone who can make it to New Jersey. Though the catalyst for Come From Away is the horrific events of September 11, 2001, the story ultimately belongs to the days that followed, offering a moving reminder that even in moments of profound darkness, compassion and humanity can still shine through. 

5/5 stars

100 minutes, no intermission

Paper Mill Playhouse, Millburn, NJ

Through March 1, 2026