Search

Saved articles

You have not yet added any article to your bookmarks!

Browse articles

GDPR Compliance

We use cookies to ensure you get the best experience on our website. By continuing to use our site, you accept our use of cookies, Privacy Policy, and Terms of Service.

Titanique

 
Pete Shaw Review by Pete Shaw 5 Published: 17 Dec 2024 Criterion Theatre Show Dates: 9 Dec 2024-3 Jan 2027

My heart will go on for quirky shows that have their roots in the fringe but make it to a West End stage. Think The Play That Goes Wrong or Six. Now add Titanique to that roll call; apparently a joke between friends that played one night in Los Angeles, then an off-Broadway run in a 150 seat theatre and now in London, Canada and Australia. It has all the trappings of a proper cult hit.

Dripping with queer pop culture references, this 110 minute Celine Dion fever dream knows its audience

The poster for this show barely sells how fun it is, and you could be excused if you thought it was a tribute concert to Celine Dion, such is the pedestrian marketing. What’s actually going on here is a parody of the James Cameron epic film in which Celine Dion was not just the singer of the theme tune, but actually onboard all along. Our heroine, played with uncanny accuracy of Dion’s mannerisms by Lauren Drew, retells the plot of the doomed ship and the love story between Rose (Kat Ronney) and Jack (Rob Houchen); she can only tell it how she remembers it though, which provides an excuse for one hilarious scene in which Ronney and Houchen have to lip-sync along to Drew’s ad-libbed dialogue.

Rose’s mother, Ruth (Stephen Guarino), steals scenes as a messy drag queen obliterating the fourth wall as she tries to get her daughter married off to wealthy villain, Cal (Jordan Luke Gage) to restore the family fortune. There are beautiful self-knowing quips from Guarino at Ronney at her debut theatre performance not knowing which side is stage left and still “three more shows before the weekend” for the actress who’s only ever done telly before.

Although born in the US, this version of the show has been very much retooled for a British audience (Cal got The Heart Of The Ocean at Claire’s Accessories) and it’s much more like a panto than you’d imagine – they even make reference to the rather larger production up the road – “Jane MacDonald playing an ingénue?” It’s also sprinkled, unsurprisingly, with Dion’s hits; although Darren Bennet playing Victor Garber (yes, he plays the actor who played the Captain in the movie) singing I Drove All Night as the ship heads towards the iceberg gives the song a meaning I’ll never be able to shake from my head.

Dripping with queer pop culture references, this 110 minute Celine Dion fever dream knows its audience; and once the word gets out, you’ll have to slay for a ticket.

Related to this article:

Location:

Performances

The Blurb:

When the music of Céline Dion makes sweet Canadian love with the eleven-time Oscar®-winning film Titanic, you get TITANIQUE. The Olivier Award-winning musical comedy is bursting with nostalgia, non-stop laughs and killer vocals. Featuring all your favourite Céline Dion hits, including My Heart Will Go On, All by Myself and To Love You More, all backed by a sensational live band. Celebrated as ‘The West End’s Funniest Musical’ (Smooth Radio), Titanique is brilliant and bonkers fun. ‘If you love the film Titanic or Céline Dion, you’ll love Titanique. Hell, if you couldn’t care less about them, you’ll love it’ (Mail on Sunday). It’s the musical that’s making hearts go on… and on, so get on board as this ship of dreams is one voyage you simply can’t miss!