REVIEW: Welcome to the Rock! Come From Away at the Phoenix Theatre, London.

Date of Performance: 4th of November, 7.30PM.

Venue: Phoenix Theatre, London.

"Laugh out loud moments, emotional scene and powerful vocals and music. It very much hits you in the gut and you leave wondering how performers can do the show every night." Let's have a chat about one of my favourite shows, Come From Away!

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Myself and my partner were quite devastated when Come From Away announced they would be closing on the 7th of January 2023. And although we have been graced with promises of an upcoming UK and Ireland Tour, we needed to fly back to London to see it once last time.

Speaking of the tour to Ireland, Come from Away producers... Please put the Abbey Theatre (Ireland National Theatre) as the venue for Dublin! It was were the tryouts for the West End occurred and would be the perfect way to come back home!

And although it has since closed, I felt it would be a good time to review this heartfelt production....

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A BIT ABOUT THE SHOW

Come From Away is a musical with music and lyrics by Irene Sankoff and David Hein. It follows the story of a small town called Newfoundland in Gander, during the 9/11 attacks, and how they rallied together to help stranded passengers who unexpectedly landed in their airport once all the planes were ordered to land to clear the airspace.

This intimate production opened in the Abbey Theatre Dublin in 2018 before transferring to the West End in 2019 at the Phoenix Theatre. Although simplistic in design, Come From Away is filled with heartbreak, joy and fear, making it a necessary viewing for all.

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OUR EXPERIENCE AT THE PHONIEX THEATRE

The Phoenix really does have a homely feel to it. The narrow winding corridors and off side entrance gives it a unique look. I would be very interested to hear from someone who has had wheelchair access within the theatre because I would think it would be very difficult.

I really like the way in which there is a board at the top of the circle stairs for you to place a pin in your home area. It is a lovely nod to the much anticipated song Me and the Sky.

We have already seen this production before from the stalls, so we decided to have a look at sitting up in the circle. We were hoping that this would allow us to have a very different view of the stage. If we were to go again, I would recommend the stalls. Although it is a small theatre, it felt like we were further away from the action and caused a slight disconnect. I felt this way when I saw Once the Musical on the West End, but completely forgot when I was booking my tickets. However, the choreography was excellent from this view, especially with the rotating stage.

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MY THOUGHTS

Come From Away has everything you want from a musical night out. Laugh out loud moments, emotional scene and powerful vocals and music. It very much hits you in the gut and you leave wondering how performers can do the show every night. We were actually speechless afterwards. And it is incredible to think that something so sad could produce something so beautiful, and this is down to the production team and cast.

Beowulf Boritt's scenic design is simple, yet affective. It draws the audience in with the sparse nature of the trees, along with the wooden paneling on the ground and backdrop, which compliments Howell Binkley's lighting design. The colour palette throughout the show is complimentary to the story, helping create some beautiful scenes that pack a powerful punch.

That said, what really sells this production is the ensemble cast, under the direction of Christopher Ashley. All play a key part in ensuring the important story is told, using accents and costume pieces to play a number of characters. Each transition is smooth, the choreography by Kelly Devine is flawless, and the harmonies soar! In particular, Alice Fearn is a great addition to the show. We all know that she can sing the roof off the theatre (her performance of Me and the Sky can make a pin drop!) but her comedic timing is incredible as her other characters. She is engaging, as are the entire cast. Each moment is believable, and heartbreaking.

And as this production prepares to mount for its UK and Ireland tour, I hope more people will get to see this story of acceptance, kindness and hope. It's what the world needs now!

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FINAL THOUGHTS

I would highly recommend this production. If you are looking for a show that tells a story, makes you feel something and has some nice comedic beats throughout.

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Come From Away closed on the West End on January 7th 2023. It currently prepares for its upcoming UK and Irish Tour.

Photographs from the Come From Away Website.