It is so invigorating to enjoy a show about the absolute goodness in people. In life we tend to complain a little more than compliment. That’s a shame. Could you imagine thousands of strangers from all over the world landing at your local airport and descending upon your little town like a biblical plague? “Come From Away” is a 95-minute musical that is based on the real-life events that took place in the airways when the September 11, 2001 attacks hit New York City and Washington DC. The US airspace was completely shut down forcing any and all planes to land wherever they were told to land. 38 commercial planes carrying 7000 passengers were ordered to land at an airport outside the small town of Gander in Newfoundland. Gander’s population was a little over 7000!

An exceptional quality of this show is the fact that creators Irene Sankoff and David Hein traveled to Gander, collected so much material and shaped a remarkably accurate piece of theatrical magic. Of course, there is some dramatic license taken and the combining of several actual people into one or two characters occurs. But the vast majority of what happened and the individual stories are true and beautifully presented. The Forestburgh Playhouse is a fantastic venue for this story that starts out with catastrophic events that we cringe to remember. However, it then gently softens our senses as we watch foreigners care for one another, share their pain and help support them through five days of total fear and uncertainty in a strange land. These intimate interactions are poignant, heart wrenching and at times a rip-roaring spirit booster as portrayed in the company’s rendition of “Screech In” (a brilliant celebratory ritual on how visitors can become Honorary Newfoundlanders)!

Another delightful aspect of this script is that there really are no leads. There are 16 performers who play multiple roles each throughout the evening. Some roles have a song to themselves but really couldn’t be labeled a lead. We’ve all seen tons of shows where there are leads and an ensemble who supports the leads and the storyline. Here, the ensemble IS the show! I cannot single out any one performer as a standout. They were all fabulous! They did it all. Every one of them belted, serenaded, danced and made us feel! Much of this praise for the actors must also be shared by Director/Choreographer Chaz Wolcott who truly staged a work of art. There was never confusion or a doubt as to who a character was. Their individual character developments and smooth transitions between roles made it so easy to follow.

Music Director Cooper Sheehy never missed a beat in this one-act, twenty-something musical numbers marathon. Wheeler Moon once again added so much to the setting, the mood and the overall atmosphere of such a moving storyline with his spot-on lighting design. Without us even knowing it, he piqued and heightened our attention with his subtle array of lighting.

The Forestburgh Playhouse’s “Come From Away” is a heartwarming tale about human kindness and a spirit of community that was imparted upon thousands of total strangers during one of the most frightening times of their lives. This compassionate town of Newfoundlanders met the unbelievable challenge head-on and set a bar of generosity that the world over should strive to attain.

“Come From Away” will run through September 6. Tickets and info are available through the box office at (845) 794-1194 or online at fbplayhouse.org.