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'Come From Away' musical redefines hospitality

Published: 07 Dec. 2023, 06:41 Updated: 08 Apr. 2024, 09:58

LEE JIAN
[email protected]

The Korean production of "Come From Away" portrays people on a U.S.-bound plane that made an emergency landing in Newfoundland, Canada, after the Sept. 11 terrorist attack. [YONHAP]

[REVIEW]

Sometimes, hope and heart can be found in the most unexpected circumstances.

For the 12 strangers in the musical “Come From Away,” it was on a remote Canadian island after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.

The show is based on the true story of 38 planes headed to the United States that were rerouted to a town called Gander in Newfoundland following the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration's decision to shutter its airways shortly after the 9/11 attacks.

The production won Best Direction at the 2017 Tony Awards and four awards at the 2019 Olivier Awards, including Best New Musical.

Actor Cha Ji-yeon sings as a pilot in the Korean production of the musical "Come From Away," playing at the Kwanglim Arts Center BBCH Hall in Gangnam District, southern Seoul, through Feb. 18. [YONHAP]

Writers Irene Sankoff and David Hein are said to have interviewed people involved in the flight rerouting and saw value in telling the story of infectious kindness and hospitality displayed by the Gander residents throughout the five days that the planes' passengers were stranded on the island.

Being nice sounds like a humdrum theme for a show, but "Come From Away" interweaves complex episodes and emotions in the plot to give it momentum. And also, you must admit — the world could use more time thinking about it.

Actors Shin Young-sook, left, and Cha Jung-won play Gander residents who prepare a warm welcome for the stranded people on the plane. [YONHAP]

The town’s school gym and churches may not have been five-star hotels, but the Canadian islanders wear their hearts on their sleeves as they take on the seemingly impossible task of feeding, housing and caring for over 6,000 people from all over the globe.

The irritated and scared passengers put on the donated plaid shirts and eat cod au gratin — reluctantly at first, though they soon find themselves singing the 30th verse of “How to be a Newfoundlander,” drinking one too many bad beers and kissing a giant fresh cod.

It all the while depicts people dealing with the shock of the terrible news, death and massive grief. It also outlines all-too-familiar problems like racism, xenophobia and all other sorts of fears of the unknown in life and love. But the Gander residents’ kindness is a cure-all as people learn to set aside their apprehensions for connection and empathy.

Actor Lee Jeong-su, left, as a rabbi and Ko Chang-seok as a Gander resident pray together inside a church during a scene of the Korean production of the musical "Come From Away," playing at the Kwanglim Arts Center BBCH Hall in Gangnam District, southern Seoul, through Feb. 18. [YONHAP]

Twelve actors all take on multiple roles, all of which add up to around 100 different characters being portrayed onstage during the 130-minute show. The Korean cast features some of the industry’s best veteran actors, including Cha Jung-won, Cha Ji-yeon, Nam Kyung-joo, Jung Young-joo, Shin Young-sook and Ko Chang-seok, though no single star nabs the spotlight.

Seoul is the eighth city globally to stage "Come From Away" since its Broadway debut in 2017. It is also the second city in the Asia-Pacific region to be opening the show, after Australia.

Newfoundland is far from Seoul, but tragedies aren’t. Over the past decade alone in Korea, there have been disasters like the Sewol Ferry sinking, the Itaewon crowd crush — and of course Covid-19. Friday night's robust standing ovation was a testament to the show's broad reach, even in Asia.

The Korean production of "Come From Away" portrays people on a U.S.-bound plane that made an emergency landing in Newfoundland, Canada, after the Sept. 11 terrorist attack. [YONHAP]

Fast forward 10 years in the show and some things have changed: the junior journalist no longer stumbles over words, the pilot is retired and two people from different countries who met on the plane are now married. But still, every single one still cherishes the impromptu five days they shared in Gander.

“Come From Away” shows that even very short moments of compassion and connection can change you, as the finale goes:

“Somewhere, in the middle of nowhere […]
In the middle of clear blue air
You’ve found your heart.
And left a part of you behind.”

And to those whom you’ve once given your heart and received kindness from in return, you know where to find them again, Gander people sing:

“To the ones who’ve left
You’re never truly gone.
A candle’s in the window
And the kettle’s always on.”

“Come From Away” plays at the Kwanglim Arts Center BBCH Hall in Gangnam District, southern Seoul, through Feb. 18.

BY LEE JIAN [[email protected]]