I clearly remember the day in 1997 when a group of friends and I rushed to a Manhattan cinema to see James Cameron’s Titanic. It was a bona fide blockbuster that went on to rake in astronomical ticket and concession sales. Though I was always more of a theater person than a film buff, I sat captivated in the dark, absorbing the sentimental narrative and the historic tragedy unfolding on screen. But right at the most tragic point of the ship’s submersion, someone in the theater yelled out: “That’s right! That fur coat ain’t gonna save your rich, white ass, lady!” The audience gasped, and then erupted into laughter.
Flash-forward to today, and the tragic history of the iconic ship is merged with the vocal belting, chest pounding, and bombastic inclusion of Céline Dion. She appears on board from stem to stern throughout the show, recounting the fictional love affair between Jack and Rose alongside the stories of the real people who perished or survived the actual journey. This farce rolls on full steam ahead, rocking the rafters all the way through to one of the most outrageous curtain calls I’ve ever witnessed. It’s a little bit irreverent but mostly uplifting, packed with swashbuckling jokes and executed by a cast, orchestra, and creative team that deserve kudos from the very first blast of the foghorn.
This outrageous project was years in the making, crafted by the super-talented writing and performing trio of Marla Mindelle, Constantine Rousouli, and Tye Blue, with foot-stomping musical arrangements and orchestrations by Nicholas James Connell. Together, they whip the audience into a fantastical lather, evoking nostalgic dreams of The Love Boat and Gilligan’s Island mashed up with the chaotic energy of Saturday morning cartoons and RuPaul’s Drag Race. Is it a show for kids? Hardly — but not because of nudity or inappropriate content. Rather, it’s a grown-up parody targeting Broadway and a generation that willingly soaked in the sentimentality of the movie Titanic, while celebrating the bizarre, dramatic eccentricities of one of the world’s most iconic pop singers. Dion hijacks a Titanic museum tour and spins a historically irreverent tale of what really happened aboard the ship, rewriting the fates of the film’s fictional lovers, Jack and Rose.
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This show has a lot of ad-lib moments with references ranging from current-day affairs to pop culture and whatever else the cast wants to poke fun at. This keeps the production refreshing for each performance, causing many fans of this farce to become repeat audience members. One of the most striking moments is when Céline reappears singing while being wheeled across the stage on a hand-truck. She also announces a “19-second intermission,” as there is no actual break in the production, which runs a swift 100 minutes.
Constantine
The leading man mimicking Leonardo DiCaprio’s Jack is Constantine Rousouli. His performance not only captures the sexy swagger of a scallywag and possible stowaway, but perfectly blends a bit of slapstick comedy with the melodramatic essence of the fictional character. With great timing and solid vocal pipes, he truly rocks this boat.
Jim Parsons
Widely known for his fame on the small screen in The Big Bang Theory, Jim Parsons is equally at home on the stage. In Titanique, his comedic timing is brilliantly showcased in the buttoned-up role of Ruth—Rose’s social-climbing, cosseting mother. Continuously swarmed by fake seagulls erupting from his costume, Parsons’s portrayal and slapstick, vengeful monologue tear up not only the scenery, but also the onstage band. It is easily the funniest, most laugh-out-loud moment of the show.
John and Rose
Melissa Barrera portrays Rose, while John Riddle is cast as the not-so-welcome Cal. The plot follows the movie version closely, as Cal comes from the “upper crust” and Rose’s mother wants them betrothed for her own selfish reasons. Barrera’s voice is pitch-perfect alongside Riddle, who finds a wonderful new Broadway home here after his long-term run as Raoul in The Phantom of the Opera.
From the theater insiders I know to the Broadway houses I’ve worked in, the word on the avenue is unanimous: Titanique is not for everyone. It’s certainly not a show for kids who won’t catch the references, nor for diehard, old-school musical purists. But if you possess an irreverent, sardonic sense of humor, a love for pop culture parody, and a high tolerance for the outrageous, you will be on your feet—laughing and singing along through the curtain call with our beloved Canadian diva, Céline.
Note: The show is in its final weeks. Find your tickets here.
Photos: P. K. Greenfield and Evan Zimmerman for MurphyMade
Titanique Broadway
St. James Theatre
246 West 44th Street
New York, NY
website: Titanique The Musical
TikTok: @titaniquemusical
