Titanic: The Musical

The cast of TITANIC: The Musical - Toronto 2015 Photo Credit: Cylla von Tiedemann.

“In every age mankind attempts to fabricate great works—at once magnificent, and impossible...”

A foreboding statement steeped in truth, this line opens the emotional journey that is Titanic: The Musical, a revival of the original Broadway production now enjoying its North American premiere at The Princess of Wales Theatre. The tale of the doomed British ocean liner may be extremely well known, but the characters in this production and their stories are unique, allowing the audience to better understand the very human experiences behind the 1912 disaster. Winner of the Tony Award for Best Musical, Titanic is rich with enchanting music and features a sparkling cast, including Canadian Tenor Ben Heppner.

Early in the production, four very different couples are introduced, all of whom represent the three classes on Titanic: Kate Mullins (Scarlett Courtney) and Jim Farrell (Shane McDaid) in third class, Alice Beane (Celia Graham) and Edgar Beane (Scott Garnham) in second class, and Ida Straus (Judith Street) and Isidor Straus (Heppner) in first class. Each couple has their own story that is told beautifully through songs such as “I Have Danced” and “I Give You My Hand”, the latter of which is performed by the fourth couple, first class passenger Caroline Neville (Claire Marlowe) and her fiance, second class passenger Charles Clarke (Nadim Naaman).

The songs in this production are truly its crowning glory, as they provide the audience with a glimpse into the individual hopes of all who sailed on the ill-fated ship. Composer Maury Yeston bases each character's name in the production on a true person who was aboard the Titanic, and third class passengers share their dreams for their new lives in “Lady's Maid,” although the audience knows that these new lives in America will never come to be.

Once the ship hits the iceberg, the production takes on a very different tone, as it moves from joy and hope to panic and doom, and the musical numbers follow suit in the furiously passionate “The Blame,” between Ismay (Simon Green) the director of the White Star Line, Andrews (Greg Castiglioni), the ship's builder, and Captain Smith (Philip Rham), and the heartwrenching “We'll Meet Tomorrow” as the women and children sail away to safety in lifeboats.

Major highlights of Titanic: The Musical include the sorrowful and stunning “Still,” sung by Isidor Straus and Ida Straus, as well as the vibrant costumes that are highly illustrative of the various classes aboard the ship—passengers in first class, second class, third class, maids and even the telegraphist are clad in clothing that speaks volumes about their rank. A white railing with a set of stairs has been added to the stage at The Princess of Wales, which gives the illusion of a ship's deck. Unfortunately, with such a large cast the stage appears cramped and full. What the stage lacks in space, however, it makes up for in talent and emotion, as this production draws the viewer in and brings a very well-known tale to life.

Titanic: The Musical is on stage at until June 21, 2015 at The Princess of Wales Theatre. Visit mirvish.com for more information and to buy tickets.