TITANIQUE - Criterion Theatre (02/03/25)

Wild, outrageous, and thoroughly enjoyable, Titanique is the brainchild of Tye Blue, Marla Mindelle and Constantine Rousouli, using the music of Celine Dion, and brilliantly parodying the plot of 1997 blockbuster "Titanic" in a 100 minute-long musical tribute to the James Cameron film. With a marvellous mix of musical references, some brilliantly improvised scenes, and a healthy helping of absolute filth, this is one of the musical comedies of the year.

Rob Houchen and Kat Ronney in Titanique (credit: Mark Senior)

The musical more or less follows the general trajectory of the 90s movie, just with the comedy dialled to 11, and the enormously talented cast given the freedom to really express themselves, especially the character of Celine Dion, portrayed in this performance by Kristina Walz, who displays her improv chops brilliantly, eliciting laughs galore from the audience, her co-stars, and occasionally herself as well. She was superb in every respect, especially her powerful vocals, you wouldn't even realise she was a cover.

Everything about the visual design of this show absolutely screamed camp, from the extravagance of Gabriel Hainer Evansohn & Grace Laubacher's scenic design, to the giant glittery queen of the ocean pendant we see as we walk in, to the distinct degree of silliness with which the scenes between Jack and Rose are executed, especially the "draw me like one of your French girls" scene, which was not only handled tastefully, most notably by costume designer Alejo Vietti, but was somehow simultaneously utterly depraved and filthy, to hilarious effect.

The company of Titanique (credit: Mark Senior)

Jack and Rose are portrayed with delightful hilarity by Rob Houchen and Adrianne Langley respectively, really leaning well into the comedy, and their interactions with Walz as Dion were brilliant as well. Jordan Luke Gage as Rose's fiancé Cal was a constant joy to watch and listen to, and he had some of the vocals of the evening, whilst Layton Williams' impressive multiroling, as the ship's seaman and the iceberg among others, though all slightly one-note, still had everyone in rapturous laughter and applause.

Though the humour, campness and goofiness of the show is very much at its forefront, and is conveyed with real panache, we can't ignore the fact that the quality of the vocals on display was astounding, especially when everyone came together as an ensemble, for some exhilarating full chorus moments. This comedy perfectly hits the balance between the stupid and the spectacular, making for a delightfully camp slice of queer culture that will have you rolling in the aisles.

★★★★☆

"Titanique" is currently running at the Criterion Theatre in London's west end