Arts Club's 'Come From Away' is a boot-stomping triumph with stellar local cast

The Arts Club's production of Come From Away, directed by artistic director Ashlie Corcoran, accomplishes what seems nearly impossible: transporting Vancouverites across the country to small-town Gander, Newfoundland in minutes.

The audience lands in Gander on September 11, 2001, the day its population of 10,000 nearly doubled when planes were rerouted there after U.S. airspace closed. The staging is brilliant. With cast members playing multiple characters — residents and newcomers alike — the audience never loses track of who is who or where the scene is heading.

The direction moves seamlessly between comedy and genuine drama. A woman anxiously worries about her firefighter son. A gay couple from L.A. navigates small-town Canada. An Egyptian businessman is put through the ringer. Throughout, Gander's residents keep their smiles and sing and dance constantly.

The script and themes are battle-tested — the play ran five years on Broadway — but what makes this rendition special is the cast. Everyone plays multiple roles, a feat that could easily fall apart in transitions or uneven character work. It doesn't. Nearly everyone nails the Atlantic Canadian accent. Three standouts: Andrew Wheeler as Gander mayor Claude Elliott brings a lived-in conviction that grounds the play from the opening moments. Jocelyn Gauthier excels at transitioning between two very different characters — the grief-stricken but tenacious pilot Beverly and another role entirely. The ensemble commits fully.

Yes, Atlantic Canadian humour and songs like "Welcome to the Rock" may not land for everyone. But the production's emotional weight, staging clarity, and cast depth make it worth the gamble.