"A big bearhug of a musical...Even the most stalwart cynics may have trouble staying dry-eyed during this portrait of heroic hospitality under extraordinary pressure...'Come From Away' is smarter than it first appears...The show covers a vast expanse of sensitive material with a respect for its complexity...It sustains an air of improvisational urgency, which feels appropriate to a show about making do in crisis, and it doesn’t linger on obvious moments of heartbreak and humanity."
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"A swelling heart of a musical...'Come from Away's' multiple narratives mostly have low stakes...When it touches on weightier concerns it falters; it is better at celebrating less consequential things...Under Christopher Ashley’s fluid direction, the 12 versatile actors form a true ensemble cast...Despite minor stumbles of craft, 'Come from Away' makes a persuasive case for the value of good intentions. For this kind of uplift you don’t need planes."
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"By no means the best musical on Broadway, but it’s surely the goodest...The production, tightly directed by Ashley, does its damnedest to knock you into submission. The songs are pleasant...In facing the problem of making its story palatable as a stage work, 'Come From Away,' despite its good heart, has possibly lost its way...That it may succeed in making the audience cry is a testament to its fine qualities, which are sufficient to position 'Come From Away' as a possible feel-good hit."
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"A gushily sentimental piece of theatrical yard goods that makes every mistake a musical can make...The results play like a volume of oral-history transcripts set to music, and the decision of the authors not to focus tightly on specific characters results in a cluttered, top-heavy show with too much exposition and not nearly enough development...If you’ve been waiting breathlessly for a gooey, uplifting musical about 9/11, your dream has come true."
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"Charming and emotionally resonant...'Come From Away' speaks the common language of just folks, and it sings and dances with the authentic inspiration of Newfoundland’s Celtic-based music...Hein and Sarnoff are not Sondheim. The folksy songs in 'Come From Away' are nearly all expository rather than revelatory...The show, staged with kinetic enthusiasm by Christopher Ashley, positively reeks of integrity–positive being the operative word."
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"A big-hearted and crowd-pleasing musical...It's a story that sings...While rousing and rich in harmony, the music suffers from sameness and a sound mix that obscures lyrics...Quips are balanced with serious moments revolving around personal crises and cultural collisions, but the show could do with a bit more introspection...Director Ashley guides the excellent cast and energizing staging...It's a singing reminder that when things are at their worst, people can be at their best."
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"The cast is a hearty group and so good-natured they really put the lyrics across...Ashley keeps the traffic moving smartly...But there’s no getting away from it—as broad representatives from both camps of hosts and guests, the characters have no character...By the end of the show, the characters are scarcely more defined than they were at the beginning, and the monotonous music may be pounding on your head. But the intentions of the show are so heartfelt."
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"Creators Sankoff and Hein have crafted a heartwarming and thoroughly entertaining musical...Despite the doubling and tripling of roles, the numerous characters are all vividly rendered, thanks to the skillfulness of the writing and performances...Although not particularly memorable, the music proves consistently engaging and serves the story line beautifully...Serving as a welcome reminder of people’s inherent goodness, 'Come From Away' is the feel-good show of the season."
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