PicksInSix Review: TITANIQUE-Porchlight Music Theatre|Broadway in Chicago
Power-Packed Parody ‘Titanique’ Making Waves!
PicksInSix® Review | Guest Contributor | Ronald Keaton
There is quite a unique piece of musical theatre that officially opened Wednesday night at the Broadway Playhouse at Water Tower Place. It’s the Chicago premiere of “Titanique”—produced by Porchlight Music Theatre and presented in association with Broadway in Chicago—a well-devised, power-packed parody of the 1997 film “Titanic” which remains one of the highest-grossing movies in history. “Titanique” takes a boatload of liberties in its campy take on the film it lovingly emulates and pretty much asks the audience one basic question: Could the hero of the film actually be Céline Dion?
Remember that Ms. Dion’s great hit was the theme to the film “My Heart Will Go On.” It was a gigantic single that became her ultimate accomplishment and generated a recurring theme in the James Horner film score. Well, the creators of “Titanique”—Marla Mindelle, Constantine Rousouli and director Tye Blue (a particularly experienced hand at creating satirical productions of famous shows)—went about the task of doing Titanic a treatment of its own. The codicil was that Ms. Dion’s influence on the success of the film was so important that they decided to make her the focus of the show. So, we are asked to come along the voyage with Ms. Dion as she appears at a kind of Titanic ‘museum’ to share what she says really happened.
The piece is almost maniacally offered at a laugh-a-minute pace, not unlike the recent satire “The Play That Goes Wrong.” The topical and pop culture references all fly by in a hurry, only to be followed by another in its wake that can easily be recognized. Since the cast knows it’s coming to us in such a manner, it actually helps that they will figuratively or verbally ‘wink’ at the punchline, precisely because of the breathless delivery. This approach is maintained all through the production, especially in musical sequences that rapidly push the plot—a smart invention for the writers.
And yes, hardly a moment in the film is spared the “Titanique” treatment. Jack and Rose are put through the mill in taking our imaginations about their blossoming love and showing us in campy, imaginative ways what might happen during the time of the voyage. Cal, Rose’s fiancé, purchased the legendary Heart of the Ocean diamond necklace from Jared’s, he shouts more than once. Oh, and another convention knocked down here is that several of the characters in the play are the actors who played those characters in the film. So, for instance, Molly Brown was played by Kathy Bates. Here in the show, Bates is the actual character, not Brown. Same with the Captain as portrayed by Victor Garber. Garber is the character. It’s a really fun twist to watch.
The talent here is at a high level, indeed. The Céline Dion character is a combination mother hen/narcissistic dove with Clare Kennedy McLaughlin in real command. Maya Rowe demands our attention in her powerful Rose; it seems so easy for her to plant her feet and make us watch her. Adam Fane is a joy as Jack, right down to the bashful looks and references that made Leonardo DiCaprio a star. As Victor Garber, the versatile Jackson Evans looks every bit the part of the Captain. The great Rob Lindley steals everything he’s in as Ruth, Rose’s mother. Abby C. Smith offers Molly Brown as an almost Southern family matriarch—elegant and forceful. A wonderful surprise was Eric Lewis as The Seaman and The Iceberg… yes, The Iceberg as Tina Turner. The always dynamic Adrian Aguilar plays Cal as both arrogant and touching, a tough act in this company.
Musically, the four players in the band led by Dr. Michael McBride make a great deal of hay with what they’re asked to do. Lots of rock anthem-type songs and derivative pieces from things that we all know from popular music that choreographer Kasey Alfonso takes full advantage of. They even played “Beauty And The Beast,” another Celine Dion hit. It all floats through for the audience at a racehorse’s clip. And the audience learns in a hurry to hang on tight. It’s a lot of fun and has already been extended through July 13.
GUEST CONTRIBUTOR | RONALD KEATON received an Equity Jeff Award for the performance of his one-man show CHURCHILL. www.solochicagotheatre.com Coming soon, his new solo play “Echo Holler.” www.echoholler.com
PHOTO|Michael Brosilow
Porchlight Music Theatre
in association with
Broadway in Chicago
present
Chicago Premiere
TITANIQUE
Broadway Playhouse
Water Tower Place
EXTENDED through July 13, 2025
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