Musical 'Come From Away' reaches back to 9/11, and happier days in U.S.-Canada relations

When Canada’s Consul General, Stephane Lessard says relations between his country and the United States “haven’t always been the smoothest,” that’s as harsh as a diplomat usually gets. But despite what tensions there are between Canada’s prime minister, Justin Trudeau, and the American president, Donald Trump, the bond between the people of those North American countries is strong.

Take as just one example the story told in the Broadway musical “Come From Away” — whose touring production lands for six days at the Eccles Theater in Salt Lake City, starting Tuesday. The Tony-winning musical tells of what happened after the 9/11 attacks, when 38 jetliners had to land at an unused airstrip in Gander, Newfoundland — and how the locals welcomed the passengers into their homes while waiting for the all-clear to re-enter U.S. airspace.

Read my preview of the production, on sltrib.com.