Set Sail on This Campy Ship of Dreams

Titanique

Imagine you’re enjoying a guided tour of a museum—say, the Titanic Museum—which is devoted to the history of the White Star Line’s Queen of the Ocean and the artifacts recovered from the underwater wreckage of this famous Ship of Dreams. Suddenly, in the middle of this tour, a famous pop music star makes an unexpected appearance. It’s none other than Canadian singing superstar Celine Dion, whose signature ballad, “My Heart Will Go On,” became the motif and theme song of the James Cameron 1997 blockbuster film. And even more surprising is that the delightful diva claims that she didn’t just sing during the final credits of the film, but that she was actually aboard the ship during that ill-fated voyage…and survived!

After the ship struck an iceberg, the “unsinkable” luxury liner,   RMS Titanic, sank four days into its maiden voyage from Southhampton, England to New York City in 1912. The luxury liner inexplicably split in half and almost 1,500 victims sadly lost their lives on that “Night to Remember.” But the public’s fascination with the Titanic continues to run high, which is why Cameron’s lushly-produced fictional account of the tragedy has become such an iconic, ill-fated love story. It’s also why 28 years after the movie opened, the public still craves anything related to this epic. Thus, TITANIQUE was born.

The packed audience at Chicago’s Broadway Playhouse Theatre is about to set sail on this highly-anticipated campy Ship of Dreams. Co-written by the Director of the original Off-Broadway production, Tye Blue (currently in town to direct the Chicago production), Constantine Rousouli and Marla Mindelle, this jovial jukebox musical is a parody of the James Cameron film. It should be noted that this gut-busting, R-rated, 100-minute comedy is not a spoof of the actual 1912 tragedy. It parodies the multi-Oscar-Award-winning, highest-grossing movie of the 20th century fictional melodramatic romantic plot, a story that was ripe for lampooning.    

This highly entertaining, camp pastiche has turned into a theatrical phenomenon. The Chicago production of this musical spoof features some of the Windy City’s finest Equity triple-threat actors. Audiences will undoubtedly recognize many of them from Porchlight Music Theatre’s high-quality, Jeff Award-winning productions. This production is stylishly Musical Directed by Dr. Michael McBride, who conducts a talented four-member onstage band. The show is athletically Choreographed by Chicago’s very own Kasey Alfonso, who’s work can also soon be seen in Paramount’s upcoming revival of CATS.   

Returning to Porchlight where she began her theatrical career, lovely and talented Clare Kennedy McLaughlin absolutely dazzles as Celine Dion. She’s nestled in a slinky, sexy sequined evening gown and heels, one of the many first-class fashions created by Costume Designer Jos N. Banks. Ms. McLaughlin absolutely owns this production. Employing an outrageous French-Canadian accent, Clare performs many of Celine Dion’s familiar hit tunes, while cartoonishly portraying the superstar. Recently seen in FROZEN and BEAUTIFUL, at the Paramount Theatre, and in BEEHIVE, at the Marriott, Clare Kennedy McLaughlin certainly ranks as one of Chicago’s musical treasures.

Actually, the entire cast of this production is an accomplished and gifted company, who are beyond belief. As the star-crossed lovers, Maya Rowe (recently seen as Sonia in Writers’ exquisite production of NATASHA, PIERRE & THE GREAT COMET OF 1812) is a fiery and feisty treat as Rose; and handsome, multitalented Adam Fane (who not long ago starred as Malcolm, in THE FULL MONTY, and as Sven the Reindeer, in FROZEN—both at Paramount) makes the role of Jack all his own. Both actors bring so much humor and harmony to their roles and demonstrate great onstage chemistry. And kudos to Patrick McGuire’s for all his props, especially his humungous Heart of the Ocean necklace that practically weighs Rose down to the floor. 

The contributions of many other Chicagoland favorites excel and sparkle throughout the production. The marvelous Abby C. Smith, who greatly impressed me as Ms. Frizzle, in Marriott’s THE MAGIC SCHOOL BUS for young audiences, is a veritable force of nature portraying the Unsinkable Molly Brown/Kathy Bates. She practically stops the show with her gut-busting comedy and breathtaking vocal work. Shifting from the role of Background Vocalist into the characters of The Museum Tour Guide/The Seaman/and The Iceberg on opening night, the incredibly talented Eric A. Lewis returns to Porchlight Theatre. After touring in JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR, he made star-turn appearances there in RENT and DREAMGIRLS. Eric also bowled me over in productions of TOMMY and IN THE HEIGHTS at Paramount, and SISTER ACT and RAGTIME at the Marriott. Eric’s portrayal of the Bitch Iceberg, with a nod to Tina Turner, and a turn at “RuPaul’s Drag Race,” is nothing short of astounding.

Greatly missed lately from the Chicago stage, talented triple-threat Adrian Aguilar returns to tread the boards as Cal, Rose’s wealthy, egotistical and abusive fiancee. The always hilarious and hardworking Jackson Evans (FALSETTOS at Court, THE FULL MONTY at Paramount, GUYS AND DOLLS at Drury Lane, and many other productions) does triple duty in this musical. He’s very funny, both as Victor Garber and the Captain, as well as Luigi, Jack’s Italian emigrant buddy from the steerage class of the ship. 

And last, but definitely not least, Rob Lindley returns to Porchlight to play a crossdressing Ruth, Rose’s snotty and snobby mother. Rob’s biography, both as an actor and director, almost reads like a history of recent Chicagoland theatre. He’s been seen in such diverse productions as THE LITTLE MERMAID, ANDY WARHOL IN IRAN, FUN HOME and TWO PIANOS FOUR HANDS, to name just a few. Rob almost steals the entire show from his costars, particularly with a show-stopping comic monologue, performed early in the play. And I don’t want to underestimate the contributes of the Background Vocalists. Opening night they included Jordan Douglas Ellis, Elaine Watson and Caroline Lyell, whose dulcet tones and choreographic gyrations truly keep the show afloat.

After sold-out productions in Los Angeles, Australia, Canada, London’s West End and New York, where the show’s still running Off-Broadway, TITANIQUE has finally made it to Chicago. Sumptuously produced, directed and choreographed, and featuring some unquestionably gifted and talented actors in every role, this collaboration between Broadway in Chicago and Porchlight Music Theatre is bound to draw in crowds of eager audiences. It’s a show that’s sure to delight every theatergoer, man or woman, straight or gay, Democrat or Republican—in fact, anyone who’s ever loved the epic 1997 James Cameron film and enjoys a dynamically presented musical parody. This show has everything going for it: a cast of jaw-dropping talent, a score of popular contemporary hit songs, stylish scenery and props, beautiful and dazzling costumes, brilliantly inspired staging, excellent musical direction and choreography, plenty of pop culture references and all performed at a venue befitting of the moniker, Broadway in Chicago. “Where Does My Heart Beat Now?” Why, in Chicago, as we set sail on this campy ship of dreams.  

Highly Recommended

Reviewed by Colin Douglas

Presented March 25-July 13 by Broadway in Chicago and Porchlight Music Theatre at the Broadway Playhouse Theatre, at Water Tower Place, 175 E. Chestnut St., Chicago.

Tickets are available at all Broadway in Chicago box offices, the BIC Ticket Line at 800-775-2000 or online at www.BroadwayInChicago.com.

Additional information about this and other area productions can be found by visiting www.theatreinchicago.com.