Our memory may not always be accurate when we try to remember certain dates or situations. But whenever something unique happens, we immediately know where we were and what we were doing at that precise moment. For instance, September 11, 2001. I had been in New York a month before, visiting one of my children, who was spending a year abroad as an exchange student. I couldn’t believe my eyes when I saw on TV those planes crashing against the Twin Towers. Unforgettable.
Last week, I saw “Come from Away”, at the Maipo Theatre in Buenos Aires. And, apart from enjoying that extraordinary musical, I learnt this: «Come From Away» is a musical based on the true story of how the small town of Gander, Newfoundland, responded to the influx of stranded travelers after the September 11th attacks. When US airspace was closed due to the attacks, 38 planes carrying 6,579 passengers and crew were diverted to Gander. The musical highlights the kindness and generosity of the townspeople in welcoming and supporting these «plane people».
In these dark days of petty selfishness and extreme individualism, the message of the play, originally written by Irene Sankoff and David Hein, creatively adapted in the local version by Carla Calabrese and Marcelo Kotlier (The Stage Company), is a breath of fresh air. The ensemble cast is superb: actors and actresses portraying multiple characters; the Irish folk music (live), uplifting, and the stress on human connection and empathy, absolutely timely.
“Come from Away” is a must for theater lovers. It’ll be on until the end of August, before hitting the road on a national tour. You can’t miss it!
Buenos Aires Times, July 19, 2025