By Cecilia Nasmith/Today’s Northumberland
It’s that rare phenomenon for the Capitol Theatre Summer Series – a feature held over by popular demand.
That would be Come From Away, which has been held over for an extra week, through Aug. 9.
The news came in an interview with actor Kyle Golemba, who plays Kevin J (there is a couple where both are named Kevin, he explained).
“We all play multiple roles in addition to one primary role,” Golemba said.
And of the dozen actors in the cast, six are also musicians who will be playing their instruments right onstage as part of the production.
Come From Away is based on an event well known to everyone of a certain age.
Terrorist attacks on key American landmarks like the Pentagon and both towers of New York’s World Trade Centre on Tuesday morning, Sept. 11, 2001, caused air traffic to be diverted out of harm’s way. Several thousand American passengers on several dozen planes were diverted to Gander, Newfoundland. The small town of 10,000 had little in the way of hotels, but they turned out in force not only to offer food and lodging, but also with open arms to provide aid and comfort in a time of crisis and uncertainty.
Written by Canadians, this show has been nominated for seven Tony Awards and won five Outer Critics Circle Awards, three Drama Desk Awards and four Olivier Awards.
“In our production, we are sitting at a Newfoundland kitchen party, where the people of Gander are reflecting on the experience that happened – the story of the plane people who all landed in Gander and ended up at local schools and people’s homes,” Golemba said.
“It’s about the generosity that was shown, as well as the difficulty of that situation with so many unknowns.”
Everyone of a certain age has his or her own 9/11 story – where they were when they heard the horrific news, what they were doing at the time.
Golemba was in Grade 12 on his way to school, looking forward to the pancake breakfast planned to celebrate Spirit Week.
“I heard it on the radio on the way to school. Partway through the morning, classes stopped and we were in the cafeteria watching everything unfold,” he recalled.
“There’s a real message of hope and generosity in this piece that shows, really, the best of what can happen in a terrible time when people come together and do their best.
“What’s also beautiful about this piece is, it also doesn’t shy away from showing the negative things that happened as well – the Islamaphobia and fear that made people not be their best.”
Those involved in the Port Hope production have been fortunate to have heard from people who previously worked on Come From Away – and actually met the Newfoundlanders on whom the play’s characters are modelled.
“It sounds like they were a pretty extraordinary group of people, who were very much changed by this experience,” he related.
“It shows not only how their kindness shaped the lives of strangers, but how this experience with all these strangers changed and forever impacted the people in Gander.”
And how the Americans reacted, how they showed their appreciation, is part of the story too.
“You will hear about that in the show,” Golemba promised.
That great musical score is always a big part of the experience, evoking a rollicking Newfoundland kitchen party. In this production, seeing the actors playing the instruments that create that atmosphere – as opposed to hearing the music from some unseen orchestra below the stage – makes for a real authenticity. And in addition to the six actor-musicians, Golemba said, four other musicians come in to join forces with them.
“It’s a new element Rob (Capitol Artistic Director and Come From Away director Rob Kempson) and the team have added.
“It’s a brand-new production in that it’s new staging made right here in Northumberland County for the audiences here. The text is the same, the music is the same, but the staging and the design and the way we are putting this production together is completely unique and can only be seen from here.”
In addition to Golemba, the cast includes Kyle Blair as Kevin T, Donna Garner as Diane, Tat Austrie as Hannah, Annika Tupper as Janice, Monique Lund as Beulah, Melissa Payne as Bonnie, Julie Lumsden as Beverley, Beau Dixon as Oz, Charlie Clark as Bob, Brendan Wall as Clause and Scott Carmichael as Nick.
Come From Away opens at the Capitol Theatre (20 Queen St., Port Hope) July 11.
