It’s an unlikely premise for a musical. In the aftermath of the 9/11 attacks, all planes on the Eastern seaboard are diverted to the deserted community of Gander, Newfoundland in Canada, so that air space can be shut down.

What started as an average day in the small town of 7,000, with a giant airport leftover from the days when planes would have to stop to refuel on their trip to and from Europe, turned into an international sleepover, when 38 planes, carrying 17,000 people from around the globe converged on Gander’s airstrip. Undaunted by culture clashes and language barriers, the people of Gander cheered the stranded travelers with music, hospitality, and sheer grit. “Come From Away” tells the story of what happens when the ton needs to host all those strangers. It brings out the best, and worst, in everyone.

This is a true ensemble performance and each member brings their all, many playing multiple roles with no more than a change of accent and a costume accessory (kudos to Michaael Dean Morgan, the dialect coach).

Director Patrick Fitzwater keeps all the moving parts blending seamlessly, and Kelly Devine’s choreography is truly inspired. The music and lyrics by Irene Sankoff and David Hein (who also wrote the libretto), aren’t going to send you home humming a song. There is a similarity to all the songs and the orchestrations don’t add a lot of variety either. Some of the lyrics are quite witty, if you can make them out. I’m not certain if it is was a matter of the actors trying to sing in character voice, or the notoriously bad acoustics at the Amaturo Theater at The Broward Center, but I could barely distinguish a word being sung.

This production is certainly of a reason for a trip to Gander, Newfoundland, via Slow Burn Theatre.

“Come From Away”
Slow Burn Theatre at The Broward Center
Through Oct. 25
954-323-7884
SlowBurnTheatre.org