By Audrey Miller, Assistant Editor of Arts & Entertainment
Photo Credits to Dr. Kevin Christopher Crowe
The time has finally come: it is musical season at Susquehanna. Consider yourself lucky if you were able to watch Susquehanna University’s fall musical “Come From Away.” The 100-minute show brought tears of joy and sadness to the audience members’ eyes, and this rollercoaster of emotions is a product of the incredible cast and their chemistry.
Based on real people and real events following the attacks on 9/11, the musical followed two groups of people: passengers on a plane who were forced to make an emergency landing in Newfoundland, an island in Canada, and the residents of the Canadian province. Throughout the show, the audience witnessed how people of different backgrounds and ages come together in a challenging time.
The show was directed and choreographed by Assistant Professor of Theatre Dr. Kevin Christopher Crowe. Although containing a lot of heavy material, the show was humorous and fun. It flowed well, with no moments dragging and each song seamlessly blending into the next. Stand-out musical numbers include the opener “Welcome to the Rock”, “Screech In”, “I Am Here”, and “Me and the Sky.”
Each performer brought a personal significance to the characters they embodied. With twelve people in the cast, each actor had to slip between a Newfoundlander and a passenger. The talent on stage was incredible. There was a distinct chemistry between each of the cast members, making the themes of hope and connection that much more palpable.
Sophomore Nevahn J. Oliver commanded every scene he was in. He brought a physical humor and personality to his characters that was unmatched. With strong vocals and an ability to move through emotions seamlessly, Oliver was very fun to watch. Another stand-out was sophomore Christopher Jones. He played many different characters, all consisting of different backgrounds. He was truly a jack of all trades. It is so refreshing to see talent like his.
Junior Victoria Hall’s character Hannah brought an emotional depth to the show. Her solo in “I Am Here” was not only melancholic but also inspiring. Hall’s vocals were clear and present, dominating the theatre. Senior Isabella Lapentina played the pilot, Beverly Bass, of the plane. She played her character with maturity and professionalism. She honored Bass with rich vocals in the hopeful yet grounded ballad “Me and the Sky.”
Professor Erik Viker was in charge of set design. While the set consisted of only a few white wooden chairs and tables, the stage was used appropriately, with the actors and musicians maximizing the space as they moved through each number. The chairs transformed each scene, moving from a Tim Hortons to an airplane to a bar. The stage was lined with skinny birch trees with a horizontal wood fence as a backdrop. It was very different from anything seen in the theatre before.
The lighting, led by Professor Jen Rock, acted as a character itself. While the back of the stage was illuminated with inviting Roku City-like blues and purples, handheld flashlights were used in various scenes to add dramatic effect. The most memorable moment of this was in the beginning when the performers imitated air traffic controllers, using the light as laptops. It was smart and made the scene realistic and intense.
Another charm from the show was the constant live music. Following the lead from music director and conductor David Steinau, the band sat in the back left corner of the stage, where performers played a plethora of instruments. The highlight of the show occured when the band members joined the actors on center stage for a dancing scene in a bar during “Screech In.” Their playing of the fiddle and accordion while the cast jigged around them added such joy to the already bubbly musical number.
Overall, this show came together seamlessly. The timing is appropriate as the 25-year anniversary of 9/11 passed this past September. This was a special ode to a moment so prominent in history, and the SU Theatre Department did it in a tasteful and fantastic manner.
The next show is “Appropriate” and will be on stage from Nov. 13-15. To learn more about tickets, visit susqu.universitytickets.com.