As seasoned theatremakers are very aware, the theatrical experience begins before the start time. Indeed, it really begins before you even enter the venue, which is why you sometimes receive a link to a feedback form in your inbox after a show – but what we are really concerned with here is what is within the control of the production team rather than the venue. The pre-show recorded music sets the scene well, mostly comprising chart music tunes from some years ago – I suspect (though my knowledge of chart music is negligible at best) from around the time the 1997 motion picture Titanic was released. It helped to establish a feel-good factor before the show proper got underway.
At about 100 minutes (depending on how much time the cast need to wait for the audience’s laughter to sufficiently subside), this is not a scene-by-scene parody of the 195-minute film. It’s an amusing reimagining from the mind of ‘Celine Dion’ (Lauren Drew) – inverted commas mine, and not because I didn’t make much of Drew’s performance, but rather because the actual Dion wouldn’t, without giving too much away, be nearly as economical with the truth, even for comedic purposes. Having been treated – or, depending on your perspective, subjected – to a Celine Dion concert at The O2 Arena in 2017 – I am happy to report that Drew’s portrayal of her mannerisms, stage presence and conversational nature are thoroughly convincing. Dion, of course, has not been on tour for some time due to well-publicised medical reasons, so this production is, if anything, an excellent opportunity to hear some of her back catalogue live in London.
It’s a bit unfair – inept, even – to equate human beings with perfection. Then again, there wasn’t anything, as far as I could see, that this cast did wrong. It is very silly – relentlessly so, really – but resistance is ultimately futile. Do you need to have seen the film to understand all of the details being quite lovingly spoofed? As someone who has seen it (more than once), I’m not sure. I’ve never seen RuPaul’s Drag Race but I had no trouble understanding, and chortling along with everyone else, to a scene evidently based on it. Titanique isn’t a complete throwback to the 1990s, let alone 1912, and there is liberal creative licence deployed throughout, with plenty of contemporary references. It works. This is not the kind of show where one questions whether one should be laughing: the story of Titanic is a tragedy, the story of Titanique, is – again, without giving too much away – not. Yes, the happy ending is contrived to the hilt. But it stops even the slightest hint of this show being in bad taste.
Adapted well to a West End playhouse, the show is keenly aware of how ‘stagey’ at least some of the audience can be. Cue plentiful references to other shows in town, and to the recent Wicked: Part One film, plus a running gag about the fashion accessories chain retailer (yes, I looked that up) Claire’s. It’s loud and energetic (if you want subtlety, see something else). Layton Williams is credited only as ‘The Iceberg’, so I’ll play ball and keep faith with the show’s programme, suffice to say there’s nothing cold or icy about any of the various characters he makes his own. It’s always surprising, at least to me, how difficult it can be to comprehend lyrics in fast-tempo numbers at the theatre, so Lawrence Schober’s sound design deserves credit for crystal clarity.
Lauren Drew isn’t the only one with a fabulous singing voice – Charlotte Wakefield’s ‘Unsinkable’ Molly Brown pulls off a glorious rendering of ‘All By Myself’, and Rob Houchen’s Jack Dawson was someone who could have sung the phone book (they are only now available via download or online purchase) and made it sound delightful. A fun and funny show that provides a spirited and exuberant night out. It’s pure escapism – the kind of production so needed in these difficult and challenging times.
Review by Chris Omaweng
Want to find out what really happened to Jack and Rose on that fateful night? Just leave it to Celine Dion to enchant the audience with her totally wild take, recharting the course of Titanic’s beloved moments and characters with her iconic song catalogue. Sailing on fierce powerhouse voices in show-stopping performances of such hits as ‘My Heart Will Go On’, ‘All By Myself’ and ‘To Love You More’ – backed by a full live band – Titanique is a one-of-a-kind theatrical voyage bursting with nostalgia, heart and campy chaos.
CAST
Victor Garber / Luigi – Darren Bennett
Celine Dion – Lauren Drew
Cal – Jordan Luke Gage
Ruth – Stephen Guarino
Jack – Rob Houchen
Rose – Kat Ronney
Molly Brown – Charlotte Wakefield
The Iceberg – Layton Williams
Background Vocalists – Adrianne Langley, Madison Swan, Rodney Vubya
Offstage Understudies – Freddie King, Kristina Walz
CREATIVE TEAM
Authors – Maria Mindelle, Constantine Rousouli and Tye Blue
Set Designers – Gabriel Hainer Evansohn and Grace Laubacher
Costume Designer – Alejo Vietti
Lighting Designer – Paige Seber
Sound Designer – Lawrence Schober
Casting Director – Pearson Casting CDG
Musical Supervisor, Orchestrator and Arrangements – Nicholas James Connell
Choreographer – Ellenore Scott
Director – Tye Blue
TITANIQUE
Criterion Theatre, 218-223 Piccadilly, London W1J 9HR
Currently booking to 30 March 2025
So, why not book a ticket or two?
