Come From Away - Phoenix / U.K & Ireland Tour 2024

Wow. I didn't even think about that!

Yes why I’m trying rush this week as it’s a word of mouth type of show - well that’s how it went in Toronto & Broadway - a bit like ‘Company’ not the stagey diehards but more causals!!

I think it starts at 7.30pm, so it should be over at 9.10pm!

What a show! I’ll try and write more soon but this is truly something special!

One word.

Stunning.

This needs to be at the top of everyone's "to-see" list, that's for sure!

I havent seen a single, negative thing on here or Twitter, I'm so happy!

Grabbed a £25 today tickets rush, got C28. Marked as red on theatremonkey the staging meant you barely missed anything, maybe two lines, but gain a smashing view into the wings storing half the band.

It is such an excellent piece of theatre. Never overblown, and amazingly never maudlin despite the subject matter, the staging is relatively simple (revolve and some chairs and that’s about it) letting the characters and songs tell the story. It races along, with no internal are rarely even a gap for applause. It is master class in acting being very much an ensemble piece and everyone playing multiple characters from multiple continents. Rachel Tucker, who hadn’t wowed me in the media launch footage absolutely nailed Me and the Sky, but all the songs were exceptionally well done. Full house standing ovation, which yes it’s first preview and therefore to be expected, was totally deserved.

A few tiny things weren’t quite right, but it was first preview. Like Rachel Tucker has to put away a phone whilst sat on a chair but then be able to grab it later, and given it was basically a metal office chair had to slide the phone between her legs... make her a phone holster guys please! Sound was great, with excellent clarity until part way into Screech In when I think something went wrong (I suspect something reset but who knows) and the vocal level collapsed and was gradually fixed over the course of the rest of the show.

But easily the most impressive first preview I’ve ever seen. Gonna be the front runner for the best new musical Olivier for sure.

Wow this is what I expected, strong word of mouth, this with what I expect to be good reviews (4 Star +) will sell the show, loved it like Mark did, both in Toronto and New York, such a cathectic experience.

So good we have a couple of top notch shows, this with Waitress, you also have 9-5.

This really is a beautiful piece of theatre. From the moment the auditorium opened, the energy in the theatre was insane. It's been a long time since I've felt anything remotely close to that level of excitement for a show. The cheer that went up when the start of Welcome to the Rock kicked in was amazing to experience! The whole atmosphere was so wonderful to be part of, when the West End can so often feel lifeless and bland, so to have a show that got that reaction is incredible! 


Now, onto the actual show. First of all, this is one of the most heart warming and heart breaking shows you will ever see. From the uplifting and uproarious 'Heave Away' and 'Screech In', where we see both the community of Gander residents and come-from-aways unite for a night of fun amidst the disaster, to the gut-wrenching 'I Am Here' where stricken mother Hannah desperately tries to get hold of her firefighter son, the show just smacks of something the West End can lack - class. Every song seems perfectly thought out, every line considered. It is a marvel to behold. The performances match the material, but a huge shout out must go to four of the women of the cast: Rachel Tucker who moves between comedy as Annette, a Gander resident who seems to fall in lust with any man in a uniform, to Beverly Bass, the captain of one of the grounded planes, who must keep a veneer of professionalism at all times. Her solo number, 'Me and the Sky', in which we learn Beverly's history as a pilot, is a standout and her clear enthusiasm for the role shines through. Next up, Cat Simmons. If there was an award given for most heartbreaking performance, she'd have it in the bag. Her ability to make even the most ordinary of lines break your heart is astonishing. As for her voice, let's just say that if God chose to appear to us as vocals, it would be hers. Helen Hobson, who takes the role of Dianne, a Texan who falls in love, is so likeable that you can't help but root for her and Nick, her beau. When she steps up with Robert Hands to sing Stop the World, it is one of the night's absolute highlights. Emma Salvo tackles the role of Janice, a new inexperienced news reporter with gentility and thoughtfulness, making her not just one of the funniest characters on stage, but one of the most moving. The moment she says that she doesn't think she can report on any more of the disaster is beautifully played.


On top of all this, there is Clive Carter as Claude, the town's mayor. He acts as a sort-of narrator, and he is wonderful. He takes a role that could so easily just be played for laughs, and gives him real pathos. He is, in a word, brilliant. Jenna Boyd as Beulah makes you wish everyone could be like her - warm, caring and compassionate. A performance not easily forgotten. David Shannon and Jonathan Andrew Hulme as the two Kevins are a perfect pair, and are joined admirably by Nathanael Campbell as Bob. The entire cast will have audiences in the palms of their hands, and rightfully so. This is a show that will break you into a million pieces and then put you back together. A show that doesn't just warrant being seen, it demands it. It's what the West End has been waiting for.


A solid 10/10 from me!

Amazing reading people's thoughts. The cast recording has been my go to for months, has frequently had me an emotional wreck. I want this to be a huge hit. It sounds like it deserves to be. I know I will be a regular visitor

I’m so excited to see this in two days! It sounds as though the London production certainly lives up to the legacy of the Broadway show too. I’ve been telling anyone who will listen that they need to see this, and by he sounds if it, I won’t be the only one! What a fantastic start!