Sorry that I have been busy working on my midterm finals and enjoying the holidays that I haven't catch up writing on my blog until now. Earlier this month, I saw the crowd-pleasing Broadway musical smash Come From Away, and to me, the show felt engaging and touching. If you don't know what it's about, I'll tell you and this is a true story indeed.
On September 11th, 2001, when the Northeastern seaboard of America was under attack by terrorists, 38 planes was ordered to land in a little Canadian town called Gander, located in the province of Newfoundland. Over 7,000 passengers and 19 animals were stranded. The Gander townspeople soon gave shelter and rest to these strangers caught up in a world that has gone unsafe. What happens then is a community's big embrace to many of its visitors and a moment when the world comes together as one at a tragic time such as this.
Working on their first Broadway show together, writing partners and married couple David Hein and Irene Sankoff has crafted a superb book and a pleasant and amiable score. Beowulf Boritt's set and Howell Binkley's lighting gives excellent touches to its bare-bones setting. Director Christopher Ashley (who won a Tony here for his efforts) delivers a first-rate production and directs a terrific ensemble here.
This is a rare thing we see on Broadway, a piece of fine escapism, especially in these tough, turbulent and crazy times in this world today. It's also a show that delivers the deserved warmth from these cold winter nights.
Rating: *** (Very Good)
Parent Advisory: Suitable for ages 10 and up. Contains adult language and situations.
Playing at: The Gerald Schoenfeld Theatre on 236 West 45th Street (between Broadway and 8th Avenue). Go to telecharge.com or call 212-239-6200.
Taking place in 1962 Baltimore, a mute woman named Elisa (Sally Hawkins) is a cleaning lady working midnight shifts at a government laboratory with her best friend, Zelda (Octavia Spencer). One night, an full-person amphibian creature (played in whole-body makeup by Doug Jones) arrives to the lab. Elisa starts being friendly with the creature by feeding him hard-boiled eggs and introducing him to jazz music.
But soon, a ruthless general by the name of Strickland (Michael Shannon, at his most nasty here) want to dissect the unlikely creature for research as ordered by a war general. Elisa finds out about this plan, so she decides to do the most possible thing to stop it: escaping the monster out of the facility.
With help from her gay neighbor, Glies (Richard Jenkins) and Zelda, the plan to escape becomes a success. Elisa then keeps the creature in her apartment for the time until she put it back underwater. Then, the creature and Eliza soon realizes that despite their differences, they made for each other and they begin a romantic relationship. But Strickland must take extreme measures to get the creature back to the lab, unless someone stops him first.
Director and co-writer del Toro and his screenwriting partner Vanessa Taylor has made an astonishing and wondrously adult fairy tale that's unlike any other in this fantasy genre. Dan Laustsen's cinematography and Paul Austerberry's art direction give the film a splendid, eye-popping look that the Oscar voters are sure to recognize for honors in March.
Attention must be paid to the powerful cast as well. Hawkins is simply brilliant as Elisa. Even though she doesn't speak, with her sign language and her body language, she easily touches and sometimes breaks your heart in a performance that must be seen. As the amphibian man, Jones is excellent and Spencer is sensational as Zelda. Actor veteran Jenkins turns in one of his best works as Glies and Shannon is phenomenal as the terrifying general in a Oscar-caliber performance.
This is a film that will certainly grab your emotions like hook, line and sinker as it did with mine. Catch this one if you really can.
Rating: *** 1/2 (Terrific. Go see it.)
Parent Advisory: Rated R for sexual content, graphic nudity, violence and language. Suitable for Ages 18 and up.
Happy New Year and Happy Theatregoing, everyone!
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