'But the show’s mission is to ac-cent-tchu-ate the positive—those small moments of kindness and camaraderie that humans can sometimes do so well, at least in the short term.' | kerryreid
, a citizen of Gander cites a Bible verse from Philippians that begins “Do not be anxious about anything.” If you’ve spent the better part of the last half-decade or so feeling anxious aboutGander is the spot on the rocky Canadian island of Newfoundland where 38 planes were grounded in the immediate aftermath of the 9/11 attacks, leaving nearly 7,000 passengers from around the globe—and several animals in cargo, including a pregnant bonobo—stranded and confused.
But the show’s mission is to ac-cent-tchu-ate the positive—those small moments of kindness and camaraderie that humans can sometimes do so well, at least in the short term. The Ganderites clean out the shelves at Walmart, open the doors of their homes and schools and churches, and introduce their guests to the secret rituals—drinking shots of Screech, which is apparently the Newfoundland equivalent of Malört; kissing a stuffed cod—necessary to become an honorary citizen.
A gay couple —both named Kevin—find themselves welcome in a bar, even as their relationship shows strains. Black American Bob , sent on a quest by his host to round up outdoor grills in the neighborhood for a group cookout, fully expects to be shot, but is pleasantly surprised when the Canadians, who apparently don’t embrace Stand Your Ground license-to-kill laws, gladly donate their Webers. English passenger Nick and Diane from Dallas develop a nascent romance.
All of this unfolds in a swift 100 minutes under Christopher Ashley’s direction, with the dozen actors shifting gears in multiple roles while still fleshing out each character without resorting to broad caricature. The eight-person band under conductor Cameron Moncur makes you feel like you’ve walked into a ceilidh at a roadside bar, with fiddle, bodhran, and Irish flute adding folk twists to the pop-rock score.
Watching the show made me think of the Sigrid Ellis quote that’s been making the rounds again lately: “Americans are really good at acute compassion, but pretty bad at chronic empathy.” Of course the good people of Gander are Canadian, not U.S. citizens. Butsuggests not only how well we can stand up for each other in a crisis if we put our minds to it; it also makes us wonder why we can’t care that much for each other in the long haul.
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