Associated Press | Published by CBC | April 7, 2019
Musicals Come From Away and Company as well as the play The Inheritance, an epic drama about gay lives in New York, were the big winners at British theatre’s Olivier Awards on Sunday, receiving four trophies apiece.
Come From Away, inspired by a small Canadian town that sheltered thousands of stranded airline passengers after the 9/11 attacks, was named best new musical at Britain’s equivalent of Broadway’s Tony Awards. The play also took trophies for sound, outstanding achievement in music and choreography.
Choreographer Kelly Devine dedicated the award in her category to the people of Gander, Nfld. who in real life, “effortlessly showed the world how easy it is to be kind.”
The award for best musical revival went to a production of Stephen Sondheim’s Company that gender-swapped the lead role of a commitment-shy New York singleton and turned the usually male Bobby character into Bobbie.
Director Marianne Elliott attributed the show’s success partly to “a wind of change blowing in the industry, where celebrating female stories is not only possible, but absolutely vital.”
Company also delivered a supporting actress prize to Broadway diva Patti LuPone and a supporting actor trophy to Jonathan Bailey. It took another award for set design.
The Inheritance, Matthew Lopez’s drama about young gay men living in New York a generation after the AIDS crisis was declared best new play.
