Come From Away
apple tv+While stage musicals have been a key part of the social zeitgeist going back decades ago, the medium found new life in 2015 with the release of Lin-Manuel Miranda's Hamilton, which engaged a new generation of youth in the artform and showed companies just how profitable the celebration of it could be. While Netflix and Disney+ obviously jumped on this, Apple TV+ also entered the game with Christopher Ashley's directed Come From Away. Telling the real-life story of 7,000 passengers who became stranded in Gander, Newfoundland in the chaos of 9/11, Come From Away welcomes audiences back to Broadway with its emotional story of community and love that is sure to tug at the heartstrings of nearly all audience members.
As with any stage musical, the songs are ultimately going to be the key decider on which production works and which doesn't. With music from Irene Sankoff and David Hein, the songs of Come From Away are not just catchy but also act as an effective catalyst for storytelling allowing plenty of character and heart to shine through. Even with actors playing multiple characters, each character feels well developed and different with solid yet casual uses of costume design being used really effectively. The stage design is equally simple yet effective with the cinematography by Tobias A. Schliessler blending intimate angles with wider shots showing the more traditional audience perspective flawlessly.
While these technical elements might effectively engage the audience in the experience of watching this play unfold, it is the characters and performances that truly sell the film and cause the film to stay with audiences after the runtime ends. The characters of this small Canadian town are endlessly charming and sweet with memorable performances throughout. From a local veterinarian trying to get past security to care for the animals trapped on the planes to a mayor trying to work out a deal with a bus system on strike, there might be drama between individuals but there is an overwhelming sense of care and love for the community that feels rewarding and charming. The passengers on the planes are a bit more complex as they not only have to sell the charm of their characters but also the confusion and panic as they attempt to understand what is happening around them. All this success really needs to be given to the cast which top to bottom are incredibly strong. There is a heart baked into their performances that is magical and transformative
For a play so defined by the emotions of love and the magic of community, there is a surprising amount of deeper drama throughout the feature. From the fear of loved ones being in harm to the Islamophobia that sprouted from this event, Come From Away has a somewhat surprising bite and purpose at times that never takes away from the more wholesome soul of the feature while also never feeling overlooked because of it. The Apple TV+ recording of the play also carries the special weight of being one of the first in-person stage performances since the COVID-19 Pandemic started, causing a sense of relief and celebration for a return to normal to weigh on the future in a positive sense. You can tell the passion from both the performers and audiences as soon as the lights dim and the first song begins. Even for those who have never stepped foot on Broadway, the emotion feels somewhat overwhelming in an incredibly wholesome way.
As usual, Apple TV+ doesn't miss. Even for those not necessarily into stage productions, it feels hard to imagine anyone not feeling charmed by Come From Away. Not only is the story relevant in a political sense, but its heart and comforting emotion expressing that no matter how bad things get we will get through it feels perfect for the modern moment. With an incredible technical craft and confident voice, Come From Away is an easy recommendation and continues to build Apple TV+'s wildly solid original feature lineup.
