First of all, if you’re going to the New theatre in Cardiff this week to watch TITANIC THE MUSICAL, and we highly recommend you do, don’t for a second think this is a rehashed stage version of the movie classic with a few songs thrown in for good measure. Nothing could be further from the truth, and for my money, the show is all the better for it.
This is a real old-school musical in the best possible way. It launched on Broadway back in 1997 and after a bit of a rocky start, when it almost sunk without trace, it eventually went on to receive much critical acclaim and multiple Tony Awards. It didn’t make the long voyage over to the UK until 2013, and look at this, we’ve had to wait another ten years before it finally sailed into South Wales.
The wait has been worth it and everything about this THOM SOUTHERLAND directed show is superb. Thom has been at the helm since it arrived over the pond and what he’s created is something incredibly special filled with heart and emotion. I’ve even go as far as saying it feels like he’s created a modern theatre classic.
We spoke to some of the audience as they left the New Theatre last night, most of them clearly moved by this awesome production……
So, we’ve established that James Cameron’s movie story and Celine Dion’s ‘My Hearts Will Go On’ are no part of this production but, of course, it is Titanic so there are similarities. It’s a ship, it sinks and tragically, a lot of people lose their life.
The music is powerful, rousing, with choral undertones, very much with Edward Elgar at its heart, which really filled the theatre with an incredible sound. The operatic voices add a real richness to the the songs. In fact, at one point, I wondered how a cast of 25 and an orchestra of 6, under the direction of BEN PAPWORTH, could deliver such an auditorium filling sound.
The music and lyrics by MAURICE YESTON will leave you moved along with a superb story by PETER STONE. With incredible skill they have created a series of dramatic love stories intertwined with one of the most famous and heartbreaking events in history.
Peter has taken the time to give each of the characters a voice. We learn about each of them, their hopes and plans for a brighter future, until we ultimately see them fighting for survival. Within a few minutes I was immersed into their stories, rooting for each of them, for very differing reasons. The outcome may be inevitable but the journey we go on with these disparate characters is incredibly moving.
The voyage of Titanic is many things but one of the most noticeable is one of class. Back in the day a third class ticket would have cost you £7 (about £800 today) and to travel first class would have set you back £30 (£3,300 today). Where you were allowed to go on the ship, depended on how much you paid and where you landed on the class ladder.
That also meant who managed to escape from the sinking ship was linked to class too. You really felt the heartbreak and injustice of those in third class who were simply locked in and left to die.
The well to do, like Ida and Isidor Straus played superbly by VALDA AVIKS and DAVID DELVE and Lady Caroline Neville (EMMA HARROLD) share space with Maids and Bell Boys and those passengers travelling to America in search of a brighter future.
There’s a nice nod to our seemingly lifelong obsession with ‘celebrity‘. Second class passenger Alice Beane, played with enormous energy by BREE SMITH, leaves her husband Edgar (JAMES DARCH) exhausted with her pursuit of a glimpse of the rich and famous. Times really haven’t changed on that front, have they?
This is a true ensemble piece with every member of the cast playing their part in bringing the look and sound of this show to life.
The way each of them perform, seamlessly moving in and out of the various class of accommodation and working areas of the ship is some of the most inspired staging I’ve seen for a while,
To find out more about the cast, and our interview with the team who brought this production to the stage, go HERE.
Titanic was the biggest and most luxurious passenger ship of its time. It was 269 metres long, 28 metres wide and more than 53 meters tall, which is the same height as Nelson’s Column in London and Llandaff Cathedral in Cardiff.
It had ten decks, three engines and its furnaces burnt through over 600 tonnes of coal. 175 ‘firemen’ shovelled the coal by hand and worked in shifts 24 hours a day. Although Titanic had four funnels, only three were functional – the fourth one was just for show.
Obviously recreating this outside of a movie is impossible, the New Theatre is big but not Titanic big. Having said that, because we know the image of the ship so well, being able to picture this enormous vessel as the cast were staring out into the auditorium in wonder was really effective. Our imaginations are great things and Titanic the Musical taps into that with great effect.
This musical based on a disaster and tragedy is a complete triumph. It may seem an unlikely story to stage, especially with songs and music, but everything about this production works. This is one of the best tellings of the Titanic story I’ve seen. At it’s heart isn’t a big ship, or floating city as it was known, but a tale about the real people and their dreams of a better life which ultimately turned into a nightmare which should never have been allowed to happen.
Sentimental it may be but despite knowing the outcome it still has moments of laughter and hope. I would highly recommend you get along to see it while you can. Everything about this production is definitely First Class.
TITANIC THE MUSICAL is on right now at the New Theatre in Cardiff. Performances are at 7:30pm with a 2:30pm matinee on Wednesday, Friday and Saturday. Tickets start at £18 and to get yours go HERE.
