This was Santa's present to the grown ups in the house, so Amy and I headed out early (earlier than anyone eating dinner in Charlotte that night) for dinner at Essex. This is our 2nd time at this restaurant and it's awesome. We had a bunch of appetizers up at the bar and had nice start to the evening.
I tried to get mum to see this a couple of years ago when we were in New York, but we opted for A Doll's House Part 2 instead. So I have been wanting to see this since it came to Broadway 2 years ago. We got our seats on the mezzanine of the Belk Theater and settled in for an great show.
Come From Away is the story of Gander, Newfoundland, Canada in the days following 9/11, where 38 planes were diverted and about 6000 people were required to stay for up to a week following the the attacks in the US. Gander had a population of only about 9000 and the story tells how passengers and locals dealt with the tragedy separately and together, and some of the lifelong friendships that were forged from a dire situation.
With a small cast of about 15 players, each playing 2 or 3 characters, this fantastic story ran the gamut of emotions. Desperation! Grief! Camaraderie! Community! Human Spirit! All done with humor and a bond of friendship you can only imagine these people formed. The cast were brilliant. Minimal costume changes (from as little as changing a hat, or turning a jacket inside out) allowed the cast to easily change from bewildered passenger to compassionate Gander resident. Also a basic set allowed for fluid scene changes from the plane, to Tim Hortons, to a shelter, to outdoor Gander.
I'm so glad we got to see this, and I hope anyone who gets the chance to, whether it be on Broadway or on a travelling tour, takes the opportunity to see a great story told by a wonderful cast.
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