Titanique - The Grand Electric (NSW)

Co-Authors: Marla Mindelle, Constantine Rousouli & Tye Blue. Directed by Tye Blue. Presented by Michael Cassel Group

A hilarious jukebox, pastiche musical about the real story of what went down on the Titanique in 1912

Reviewed by Claira Prider & Tessa Miles. Edited by Justin Clarke

The Grand Electric, Surry Hills

Until November 3rd, 2024

Tickets: https://titaniquemusical.com.au/

As the synthesized strings of that beloved song “My Heart Will Go On” begin on the keyboard, the cast of eleven welcome us aboard the doomed ship, ascending the sides of a set designed to evoke the grandeur of the ship of dreams, the Titanique. Audiences best prepare themselves to then set sail for a hilarious, parodied re-enactment of the 1997 blockbuster through the eyes of Celine f***ing Dion! 

We’re not quite on the iconic ship just yet; instead, we find ourselves in a museum showcasing artifacts from the wreck, including the captain’s monocle—reportedly a necessity due to his poor vision—and the infamous Heart of the Ocean necklace. Suddenly, the tour is interrupted by a woman cloaked in a rubbish covered cape. With a dramatic flourish of lighting and music, we discover that it’s none other than Celine Dion (Marney McQueen), who has crashed the tour, insisting she was aboard the ill-fated ship despite the tour patron’s bemusement over her age and apparent immortality.

While the show superbly exaggerates Dion’s physical and vocal nuances, it’s written and delivered without any hint of nastiness, but silliness and affection. It’s most apparent that everyone on the stage of Titanique is a massive Celine Dion stan - and who quite possibly belted out her albums from start to finish in childhood living room performances. Including splash hits such as “River Deep, Mountain High”, “I’m Alive”, and of course “My Heart Will Go On”, the evening aboard the Titanique is so entertaining, camp, and absolutely iconique from start to finish.

Titanique at the Grand Electric (2024). Image: Daniel Boud

The creative team have fitted out The Grand Electric to make it feel like we’re all aboard the ship together, making the evening feel like more of a cabaret style experience than a sit-down performance. This meta-musical production makes great use of the space with the four-piece band semi-visible to the audience from raised stages in front of the wings. The small size of the stage leaves little room for the cast to really stretch out, which makes it even more impressive when they execute the cringiest (read: stunning) cliché group choreography numbers - think grapevines, step turns, easy steps, and spirit fingers. The stage is made up of a relatively bare set, with multiple levels and metal railings, with opaque windows behind and all the location changes are facilitated by the performers’ story telling. James Cameron decadence this is not, though the tongue is very firmly in cheek.

McQueen performs the role of Celine Dion, perfectly capturing the dramatized, passionate delivery and rhotacized vowels of the artist herself. McQueen’s well researched characterisation is clear throughout. The tonal interpretation and over the top, unhinged-diva comedic Dion-isms are spot on.

Georgina Hopson perfectly manages a balancing act - like floating on a door in frozen waters

As our ingenue Rose, Georgina Hopson manages a balancing act - like floating on a door in frozen waters - between her commitment to the original material and embracing the absurdity of the work. She epitomises the bizarre feeling that what we hear doesn't match up with what we see; hearing a powerful, warm, incredible soprano voice coming from a dizzyingly ditzy, fast-moving woman is a highlight of the production. 

Drew Watson is so Disney Prince-esque as a perfectly hammed up and romantic Jack with comedic physicality, particularly as he fights for his life and succumbs to hypothermia, grasping for Rose’s floating life vessel - there was clearly room for two! He gives a rousing performance of “You and I” while building hilarious and horny chemistry with Rose.

Stephen Anderson delivers some truly side-splitting moments as Ruth, portraying her so brilliantly that you find yourself loving and hating her simultaneously. His impeccable comedic timing and rage-fuelled monologues send the audience into a frenzy of laughter.

The cast is rounded out by Keane Sheppard-Fletcher as the jealous and shallow Cal, Matt Lee delivers a standout performance as Victor Garber and Luigi, particularly with his unforgettable rendition of “I Drove All Night". Abu as the Seaman and a prima donna iceberg is a hit. Abigail Dixon quite often the show as Molly Brown, serving up iconic tongue-in-cheek moments and powerful vocals, all backed by the talented trio of Jo-Anne Jackson, Jenni Little, and Trent Owers as the backup singers.

...it's pure-unadulterated-joyful-love-making-in-a-car-on-a-ship-fun!

The work is so fast paced and jam packed with jokes and references, it’s a bit of a whirlwind trying to keep up. Many of the jokes centre around musical theatre, queer icons and pop-culture, as well as some Australianised content and clever political references smattered for audience appeal. 

With such a vocally talented cast, there's a desire for the show to take a breath from the gags and slapstick so the audience has a moment to appreciate the singing. They do in the end get a few juicy, indulgent musical moments, particularly from Dixon as Molly Brown in her performance of “All By Myself” and the trio with Rose and Celine singing “Tell Him”.

This is as camp as you can get on board a ship without departing Sydney Harbour. In a word, it's pure-unadulterated-joyful-love-making-in-a-car-on-a-ship-fun!

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CAST

Marney McQueen Céline Dion

Abu The Seaman/Iceberg

Artemis Alfonzetti Offstage cover (Cover Céline, Rose, Molly, Iceberg and BGVs)

Stephen Anderson Ruth Dewitt-Bukater

Abigail Dixon Molly Brown

Georgina Hopson Rose Dewitt-Bukater

Jo-Anne Jackson Background Vocalist

Matt Lee Victor Garber / Luigi

Jenni Little Background Vocalist (Cover Céline, Rose, Molly)

Trent Owers Background Vocalist (Cover: Jack, Cal, Ruth, Victor, Iceberg)

Matthew Predny Offstage Cover (Cover Jack, Cal, Ruth, Victor, BGVs)

Keane Sheppard-Fletcher Cal

Tyran Stig Offstage Cover (Cover Jack, Cal, Ruth, Victor, Iceberg and BGVs)

Drew Weston Jack Dawson

CREATIVES

Marla Mindelle Co-Author

Constantine Rousouli Co-Author

Tye Blue Director & Co-Author

Ellenore Scott Choreographer

Nicholas James Connell Orchestrations, Arrangements & Original Music Supervisor

Gabriel Hainer Evansohn & Grace Laubacher for Iron Bloom Scenic Designer

Alejo Vietti Costume Design

Lawrence Schober Original Sound Designer

Paige Seber Original Lighting Designer

David Tonion Australian Sound Design Adaptor

Kathy Pineo Australian Lighting Design Adaptor

Kylie Clarke Hair and Wigs Designer

Nick Fry Associate Scenic Designer

Christine Mutton Costume Supervisor

Cameron Mitchell Associate Director/​Choreographer

Hayden Barltrop Music Director

Luke Woodham Production Manager

Michael Cassel Group Producer

Yossi Torbiner Associate Producer

Eva Price Producer

MEP/Carl Flanigan Original General Manager

Presented by Michael Cassel Group

IN ASSOCIATION WITH

Sonia Friedman Productions Ltd

Co-Producer Diamond Dog Entertainment LLC

Co-Producer Eastern Standard Time

Co-Producer Jodi & Howard Tenenbaum

Co-Producer Daryl Roth