One-act musical ‘Come From Away’ embodies shared ‘human spirit’ post-9/11
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For many, remembering the tragedies of 9/11 contains only pain and heartbreak. But for audiences of the musical “Come From Away,” the tragedy was mixed with a beautiful story about embracing community.
“People refer to it as the ‘9/11 musical’, but it’s really the ‘9/12 musical’, and it’s about how people come together after a tragedy. It’s not about the tragedy,” Bets Malone, who plays multiple roles in Syracuse Stage’s production of “Come From Away,” said.
On Friday, the Tony-winning musical opened at Syracuse Stage and will run through Oct. 11. “Come From Away” is a one-act musical based on the true story of the planes that diverted to the small town of Gander in Newfoundland, Canada on 9/11.
The show originally ran on Broadway from 2017 to 2022. The plot focuses on various characters on the planes and in the town, with a small cast where each plays multiple roles.
The cast rehearsed the show for roughly three weeks, which is a standard amount of time for regional theater productions, Malone said. Malone rotated roles throughout the show, but her main character was Bonnie, one of the musical’s central parts. Actress Marcia Hughes joined the cast halfway through the rehearsal process and only had a week and a half to rehearse. Without any intermissions or breaks, Hughes said the show’s 105-minute duration and one-act form helped energize her through rehearsals.
Hughes, who plays Beulah and others, recently played the same role in a regional production of the show in Iowa. Though the script is the same, Hughes said picking up new staging and choreography has been a welcome hurdle.
“I kind of held very true to how I have been playing her, except for all the blocking and the staging,” Hughes said. “I think the challenge has been a lot of fun.”
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Twenty-five years after 9/11, “Come From Away” still resonates with audiences after the tragedy. Hughes said people have come up to her after the show to share their own experiences post-9/11 with her, which she has welcomed.
“I do think it carries a significantly different weight right now,” Hughes said. “We all, those of us alive at that time, know exactly where we were in that moment.”
Oliver Symons, a Syracuse University freshman, saw the show on Saturday for free through the SU Department of Drama’s “drama dots” program, where drama students can fill unsold seats at Syracuse Stage productions. The show’s soundtrack was familiar to Symons, but he had never seen a live production of it.
As an aspiring actor, Symons said being able to see professional actors close to SU’s campus is an integral part of his education.
“Their acting is so inspirational,” Symons said. “They’re incredible performers to get to see.”
Like many SU undergraduate students, Symons was born after 2001. He called the chance for students to get a glimpse into an event that happened before most were born an “incredible opportunity.”
Bets Malone (center) sings and dances during the production of “Come From Away.” The musical is a one-act production where actors rotate between different characters. Christian Calabrese | Asst. Photo Editor
On the other hand, attendee Dawn Franits witnessed the events of 9/11 and said the show reminded her of the community she experienced after. When Franits saw “Come From Away” on Saturday with her two friends — who she sees Syracuse Stage productions with multiple times a year — it made her recall when Americans bonded together in a time of tragedy.
“It was about the human spirit and giving to others,” Franits said. “We’ve lost a lot of that now.”
This human spirit is evident in the show’s plot, which revolves around the hospitality of the Gander residents and the welcoming embrace of the plane’s passengers. On top of providing shelter and food for three days, citizens share local traditions with the plane’s passengers, like kissing a fish at a bar.
Despite its heaviness, “Come From Away” is a show that incorporates humor into its script. Hughes said balancing the seriousness and levity showcases the human experience after 9/11.
Malone said her favorite moment of the musical is when the entire town of Gander takes a moment of silence for the people affected in the United States.
“It’s one of the most magical things I’ve ever experienced on stage,” Malone said. “You could hear a pin drop.”
