With the many, many Broadway shows I see, how did I not know about the cult following and hilarity of Titanique? I had heard the show (off-Broadway when I first knew of it) was a funny musical. But that’s all I knew. We got tickets during Broadway previews, scoring a pair with my TDF membership (and score – they were orchestra seats, and good ones).
Clearly we had missed the boat (pun intended) in understanding what a following it had gathered. There was an energy in the theater that I’ve only felt before during the previews of Buena Vista Social Club. Entire rows of white women showed up in captain hats. People were giggling as they got to their seats. Scores of men stood up applauding during multiple parts of the show. And many knew exactly what to say (and when) when “Celine Dion” asked for a response. We felt like we were being let in on a secret club – and we liked this club.
The plot: Celine Dion walks you through her version of what happened on the Titanic. I don’t want to spoil any of the other elements. We came in cold, and it was fun that way.
The music is all Celine, and the co-author and original Celine, Marla Mindelle, stars in the show. One other co-authors stars in it – Jack (Constantine Rousouli). And we were thrilled to see Jim Parsons as Ruth, Rose’s mother. Molly Brown is played by Deborah Cox, a multiple-Grammy nominee. And they gave her chances to shine and belt out some tunes. And two other actors of note, Frankie Grande as Victor Garber and Layton Williams as the iceberg/seamen – both insanely talented.
The show was super high energy throughout. It is campy. It is funny. It was ridiculous. It is partly improvised. I didn’t know there would be improv during it, but at one point Celine said she was going to riff, and Jack and Rose were cracking up out of character.
Is Titanique on Broadway appropriate for kids?
Is Titanique appropriate for kids? It depends on their age and maturity. I’d say it’s fine for high schoolers, but use your judgment for younger kids. Spoiler alert: There are lots of f-bombs. There is a suggestive song about sex featuring a plastic eggplant. And there is a simulated sex scene between Jack and Rose (which was hilarious). And there are a lot of other suggestive elements. The show has a huge LGBTQ following, for good reason. There are many over-the-top characters and the gay elements are not subtle. So if this sounds like a good fit for your kid, get tickets! If this all makes you squirm, don’t.
No more spoiler alerts: As background, because I did a deep dive after the show, it began as a drunken discussion between actors when they were in between roles. It started out a one-night cabaret-type performance in Los Angeles, eventually moving to a similar role in New York. It later opened off-Broadway, which to me felt like a 4-year run at least, but I don’t think it was actually that long. Or maybe it was – I didn’t look too closely. I just know I saw it in the Playbill for years and years and never went. My loss.
Go see it. It’s the perfect balm to what ails us these days.