Report from"Plane Person" who had been seeking CFA contact info

[MarkBearSF]

Posted: 5/27/17 at 8:10am

(Subject changed after resolution - Was originally a request for contact info - the report is at the end of the thread)

This morning, at breakfast on a QM2 crossing to NY, we were seated with a couple of "Plane People" (although, they said that Newfies call them Strandees) He and his wife will be arriving in NY on Wednesday and were hoping to see Come From Away. With no resources to call on from England he had tried to get tickets to no avail. (I assume he tried Telecharge or tried to find a theater number).

They have revisited Gambo (the town they were put in) and Gander many times and have continuing relationships with citizens there. Here's a link to an article about them http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/transatlantic-friendship-forged-in-9-11-1.1054038

I would imagine that the producers would love to have them see the show, but they need a contact.
They will be in NY from noonish Wed 5/31 for 3 days. 

I have their contact info and would love if someone could help provide a way to contact the producers or another way for them to get to see the show.

...and yes, they DID kiss the fish. (And when a friend from Gambo visited them in England, they returned the favor by making him drink scrumpy and eat Marmite)

Mark
[e-mail]

Updated On: 6/3/17 at 08:10 AM

[trpguyy]

Posted: 5/27/17 at 8:46am

Alchemy Production Group is the general manager. tel: [phone]

[HogansHero]

Posted: 5/27/17 at 9:20am

this is a press agent situation. Matt Polk 917 261 3988 (you could check other names in his office who are working on the show in the playbill (via playbill vault if you don't have one)). I think all of their emails are styled first [e-mail]

[MarkBearSF]

Posted: 5/27/17 at 1:00pm

Thanks all! I just got an email from Max Grossman (?) who will have house seats waiting for them. I've sent the necessary contact info to both parties.
The response to this was immediate and generous. Something about this show inspires that.

[broadwaysfguy]

Posted: 5/27/17 at 1:16pm

this is a very amazing thing just done by BWW members and MarkBearSF

Fantastic effort, everyone!!!!!!!

[Blockhead24]

Posted: 5/27/17 at 1:18pm

Happy to hear that! Thank you.

[ACL2006]

Posted: 5/27/17 at 1:18pm

This is fantastic. Please let us know how they liked the show.

[MarkBearSF]

Posted: 5/27/17 at 2:17pm

broadwaysfguy said: "this is a very amazing thing just done by BWW members and MarkBearSF

Fantastic effort, everyone!!!!!!!"

INDEED!  

By the way, this morning was unusual. We usually request a table for 2 by ourselves - as does the other couple. Yet today we both decided that we wouldn't mind sharing. Some things are meant to be.

Thanks again to everybody who helped make their day.

[wonderfulwizard11]

Posted: 5/27/17 at 2:30pm

Aw, how lovely. I hope they have a great time! 

[10086sunset]

Posted: 5/27/17 at 2:31pm

For all the pettiness that can exist here, this board truly shines with moments like this. 

[Wee Thomas2]

Posted: 5/31/17 at 12:55pm

Looking forward to hearing their thoughts after today's show!

[Liza's Headband]

Posted: 5/31/17 at 1:13pm

10086sunset said: "For all the pettiness that can exist here, this board truly shines with moments like this. 

 

"

 

Which you sadly promote with your never-ending tribute threads to Riedel's written garbage

[Lot666]

Posted: 5/31/17 at 2:20pm

10086sunset said: "For all the pettiness that can exist here, this board truly shines with moments like this."

Refreshing, isn't it?

I thought Come From Away was brilliant and I can only imagine how lovely this experience will be for these people.

[10086sunset]

Posted: 5/31/17 at 2:34pm

Liza's Headband said: "Which you sadly promote with your never-ending tribute threads to Riedel's written garbage"

Promoting pettiness? Liza, that's rich coming from you. 

[ACL2006]

Posted: 5/31/17 at 3:11pm

Let's keep this thread positive please!

[kaykordeath]

Posted: 5/31/17 at 4:04pm

ACL2006 said: "Let's keep this thread positive please!

 

"

https://www.thestar.com/entertainment/stage/2017/05/30/seeing-yourself-in-come-from-away-it-was-really-surreal.html

[Hest882]

Posted: 5/31/17 at 7:32pm

Awwww, this is lovely. Thanks, Mark, for helping them out!

[Hest882]

Posted: 5/31/17 at 7:33pm

Oh, and trpguyy and HogansHero! Does my heart good.

[MarkBearSF]

Posted: 6/3/17 at 5:28pm

I received a wonderful email from Steve and Sonia, the "strandees" who were able to see the show, thanks to the intercession of some wonderful participants in these Broadway chat boards. 

"So… thoughts on the show.  I hardly know where to begin.  It was a show I desperately wanted to see for reasons we discussed over that breakfast.  Being stranded in Newfoundland over 911 has had such a profound effect on my life in terms of the life-long friendship that it established and the experiences that have been gained as a result.

In truth, it was not without some trepidation that I went along.  It is after all, such a complex story to tell and how can one turn such a terrible tragedy into a lively, witty, comedic musical based upon a calamity that back in Newfoundland, if you include the locals and the plane-people (strandees!?), had a cast of many, many thousands.

In truth, I need not have worried.  The simplistic and very clever stage easily was easily and simply converted to represent the complexity of the many locations being at once the passenger section of an aircraft, a coffee bar, the Lions club and others.  The transformation of the stage was instantaneous, easily and slickly undertaken as indeed, were the variety of personas adopted by the cast - very often humorously completed. 

It is amazing what can be accomplished by a few tree trunks, chairs, tables and a talented cast of actors, actresses and musicians along with the audience’s imagination - which did not need to be stretched too far!

The musical itself got off to a rocking start with an opening number and that continued throughout the show.  The music as a whole was reminiscent of two bands I have come to know on our many subsequent visits to Newfoundland, Blue Rodeo and especially, Great Big Sea.  I later mentioned this and was told that Alan Doyle of Great Big Sea was a musical advisor.

As an aside:  I have collected most of their music and have long wanted to see Alan Doyle in concert.  I was delighted to see that was going to play one show in London… sadly and ironically, while we are in Newfoundland!  We cannot always count on things working out!     

The show itself was magnificent in every way.  Through a series of disconnected events and experiences that the real plane-people and Newfies encountered, a superb and  witty storyline has been woven that encapsulates so many actual incidents, some humorous, some sad but all that would be recognised by anyone who was there.

I had forgotten some of them… the back-aching uncomfortableness of the aircraft seats.  I boarded at London Gatwick at 10.00 am on the 11th and we were disembarked late afternoon on the 12th… around 30 hours later.  Yes, we could walk around, but space was limited and everyone wanted to do the same!  I was reminded of that sweet moment when the doors were opened and fresh air circulated.  The moment when we could (taking turns) standing at the rear passenger exit 30 feet above the ground and see out!

Not mentioned in the show… my recollection of breakfast on the 12th that consisted of a packet of crisps (chips?) and a curly-whirly!

But I was saddened to think that I was short changed because unlike the passengers depicted in the show, the duty free was not broken out on my flight!  I have no recollection of imbibing any alcohol… sadly.

My recollection was of a sleepless, uncomfortable night being interrupted by a police car or cars circulating slowly around the aircraft reappearing every few minutes throughout the night which for some reason it had blue lights flashing that permeated the cabin like a strobe preventing any rest. Considering this was inside a secure airport perimeter, this was the only thing I recall being irritated by!

Otherwise the show revived many memories.  The baggage being offloaded and searched on the tarmac.  Only being able to take carry-on and your blanket and seat cushion.  Being met at the airport and given a sandwich and a drink of water and filling out a form with your name and address.  Getting on the school bus.  I also recall complete calm and organisation and no panic.  We knew somehow that we were in good hands and all was going to be well.

I laughed at the moose scene when the bus stopped and waited for the moose to move on.  So true and so funny as it is something you have to be careful of driving in Newfoundland.

I recalled standing outside the church In Gambo and watched as a pickup drove by bearing a huge horse sized animal (obviously dead) with its head hanging over the tail board. “What is that”? I asked a local lady standing nearby.  “A moose”, she replied, “have you ever eaten moose”?  My response was not surprisingly, in the negative.

That night, she called me out of line to go and get my supper first as had cooked a moose stew for me that was also enjoyed by many of my fellow passengers!

The show perfectly captured the rapport that was built up between the passengers and the Newfies.  I recall a particularly lively evening at the Lions Club where the beer and music flowed and we all became close friends and honorary Newfoundlanders because the evening ended with many of us partaking in the initiating ceremony involving a shot of Screech and kissing a cod!  Only in Newfoundland!

So many and too many aspects of that time were encapsulated by the show bringing memories that invoked tears and laughter - often at the same time!

An amazing evening that was superbly rounded off when we were invited to meet the cast after the show.  We met just about everyone involved and they were delightful.  The one question that I was asked by all is; “Did we get it right”?

“Unquestionably”, was my response “Yes, you did!

Sonia and I have thoroughly enjoyed our all to brief sojourn in New York and we are now continuing our journey that will take us through to see all our friends in Newfoundland.

Next stop Boston before going on to Halifax and then on to what we consider our second home, Gambo."

 

[Patty3]

Posted: 6/3/17 at 10:01pm

Thanks for posting the "strandees" review. I enjoyed reading it and was so glad they got to see the show! It's my favorite show of this season. 

[ACL2006]

Posted: 6/3/17 at 10:08pm

Was eagerly awaiting their review. thank you. I'd suggest forwarding the email to the whoever gave them the tickets if they didn't do so themselves.

[MarkBearSF]

Posted: 6/3/17 at 11:00pm

Thanks for the reminder. Will do. Glad to see good deeds recognized all around.

[Gensho]

Posted: 6/3/17 at 11:12pm

?? this thread! 

[dramamama611]

Posted: 6/4/17 at 7:25am

Thanks for sharing that MarkBear....and for going the extra mile in the first place.

[bloomerific]

Posted: 6/5/17 at 3:26pm

That response is so amazing...glad that they had such a good time! I'm a big fan of Blue Rodeo and Great Big Sea as well (I live in the Buffalo area, so we like our Canadian tunes)...so I was psyched to have such a connection to the tunes. (It's actually Bob Hallett from GBS who is the advisor, not Alan Doyle--though Alan is quite a musician himself and great in concert)

This whole thing is just so heartwarming!! Yay!!!