Review: TITANIQUE, Criterion Theatre
Photo credit: Mark Senior
Titanique asks the question; what if the best-selling Canadian singer Celine Dion was onboard the Titanic?! And we are so glad that they do!
If you are looking for a fabulously funny and camp night out, then Titanique is a must see. This much anticipated Broadway transfer is 100-minutes of pure and unapologetic theatrical fun. In the present-day, Celine Dion hijacks a tour of the Titanic Museum to tell the story of how she survived the sinking of the Titanic and shares her version of what really happened to Jack and Rose on that fateful night.
This parody jukebox musical is hilarious from start to finish and is told in tandem with a selection of our narrator’s biggest hits. The classics are all there: ‘My Heart Will Go On,’ ‘Taking Chances’ and ‘I’m Alive’, which is certainly how this show makes us feel. The book by Tye Blue, Marla Mindelle, and Constantine Rousouli is packed full of smutty jokes, double entendre, and theatrical and queer pop culture references. The humour is crass at times and will not be for everyone, but the right audience will leave with a belly full of laughs. The script has also been cleverly crafted to include a plethora of British societal titbits…who knew the Heart of the Ocean was from Claire’s?!
Writer Tye Blue also directs, and they have made sure that the audience is gripped, and every moment is milked for maximum laughs. Titanique is a feast for the eyes. The relatively simple but glitzy set, designed by Gabriel Hainer Evansohn and Grace Laubacher, leaves space for Ellenore Scott’s flamboyant choreography and a wealth of physical comedy. The cast’s movement switches from amazing athleticism to chaotically camp, dressed in Alejo Vietti’s sensational sparkly costumes which pays tribute to the 1997 film and other cultural icons. The excellent band are on stage, as are three wonderful backing singers (Adrianne Langley, Madison Swan, and Rodney Vubya), which allows them to join in with the fun and create the atmosphere of being at a Celine Dion concert.
Celine Dion has been described as the ‘Queen of Power Ballads’ and Lauren Drew rises to the challenge of this title with ease. Her powerhouse vocals are out of this world and her side-splitting French-Canadian accent is the perfect combination of homage and jest. Drew oozes charisma: her casting and comedic timing are perfection. The improv scene with Rob Houchen and Kat Ronney as Jack and Rose brings tears of laughter to our eyes.
The whole cast are incredible singers, and Houchen and Ronney are no exception. Jack and Rose are the straighter characters of the piece and they bring a sprinkling of tender moments to this wacky show. However, they also get to demonstrate their comedic talent, and their reactions are key to the success of Drew’s improv. The villains of the show Cal and Ruth, played by Jordan Luke Gage and Stephen Guarino, clearly revel in their wickedness. The choice to make Ruth a drag role is inspired and Guarino’s tantrum is one of many highlights of this hilarious show. Layton Williams’ turn as The Iceberg radiates star quality and earns him a mid-show standing ovation! Darren Bennet and Charlotte Wakefield complete the cast as Victor Garber and the unsinkable Molly Brown. Wakefield sings a fantastic rendition of ‘All By Myself,’ but she is certainly not alone in the absurdly talented cast of this ridiculous show.
The Titanic may have sunk but with Celine Dion now at the helm, it is sure to swim into the hearts of British theatregoers.
***** Five stars
Reviewed by: Sophie Luck
