“Titaníque” is a merciless parody with big songs
“Titaníque”, the exhilarating parody which opened on Broadway for a proposed 16 weeks following a record-breaking three-year run Off Broadway, takes as its model the 1997 film directed by James Cameron, starring Leonardo di Caprio and Kate Winslet as the young lovers Jack and Rose who struggle to survive the sinking of the Titanic in 1912 after it struck an iceberg. Co-created by Tye Blue, Marla Mindelle and Constantine Rousouli, this musical version is presented and emceed by Céline Dion, whose “My Heart Will Go On” became a glorious anthem for the film.
Actually, it is not really Céline Dion, but Marla Mindelle, who impersonates the diva and gives her the opportunity to sing such celebrated hits as “Beauty and the Beast”, “If You Asked Me To”, “Tell Him”, “Because You Loved Me”, “Where Does My Heart Beat”, “All By Myself” and of course “My Heart Will Go On”. Chart hits from the catalogs of other singers are also included, like “I’m Alive”, “River Deep – Mountain High”, “I Surrender” and “I Drove All Night”, giving the musical numbers more diversity and personality.
The show, while following the narrative originally designed by Cameron, takes a turn left and right to hilarity at every instant, with each scene becoming an opportunity for the actors to manifest themselves in zany comedic moments that qualify the announcement that “Jack & Rose’s Story Isn’t Done, It’s Dion …”. That alone is an indication that the musical comes with a different attitude, not unlike “Spamalot”, Eric Idle’s personal vision of “Camelot”, seen some years ago.
Céline, who pretends to have survived the sinking of the ship, tells the story of Jack, a poor artist in search of a pleasant future, and Rose, fiancé to the wealthy Cal, as they board the Titanic, scheduled to go to New York City. It takes little time for Rose to fall in love with Jack and realize that Cal is not the man she wants to live with, much to her mother Ruth’s regrets. When the ship hits an iceberg, Rose and Jack jump in a lifeboat, when Cal, furious, runs after them with the intent to kill them with a gun he is holding. But in a twist to the film scenario, Céline says that the ship didn’t sink, and Jack and Rose were brought back on board to reach their destination and spend their lives together.
This witty tale is enhanced by the presence of actors who play characters in turn weird and hilarious like Constantine Rousouli as Jack and Melissa Barrera as Rose, constantly on stage and remarkable in the main roles; Frankie Grande as Victor Garber, captain of the ship; Layton Williams as The Seaman and Iceberg; Jim Parsons as Ruth DeWitt Bukater, Rose’s mother; John Riddle as Cal Hockley; and Deborah Cox as “Unsinkable Molly Brown”, all of them splendid in their respective personifications. They are seconded intermittently by Kyle Freeman, Sara Gallo, Brad Greer, Polanco Jones, Jr., Kristina Leopold, and Tess Marshall, in a diversity of supporting roles that flesh up the development of this narrative.
All physical aspects of the production, and particularly the crazy costumes by Alejo Vietti, the attractive scenic designs Gabriel Hainer Evansohn and Grace Laubacher, and the sparkling lighting provided by Paige Sieber add to the impression exuded by the show’s sprightly humor.
Ellenore Scott’s choreography and Tye Blue’s outrageously funny direction turn the whole presentation into a thoroughly infectious and enjoyable production that should be staying on the boards longer than anticipated.
Music Supervision: Nicholas James Connell • Music Direction: Geoffrey Ko • Direction: Tye Blue • Choreography: Ellenore Scott • Scenic Design: Gabriel Hainer Evansohn & Grace Laubacher for Iron Bloom • Costume Design: Alejo Vietti • Hair and Wig Design: Charles G. LaPointe • Lighting Design: Paige Seber • Sound Design: Lawrence Schober • With: Marla Mindelle (Céline Dion), Jim Parsons (Ruth DeWitt Bukater), Deborah Cox (Unsinkable Molly Brown), Melissa Barrera (Rose DeWitt Bukater), Frankie Grande (Victor Garber/Luigi), John Riddle (Cal Hockley), Constantine Rousouli (Jack Dawson), Layton Williams (The Seaman/Iceberg) and others
Cover photo: Evan Zimmerman for MurphyMade