Titanic The Musical sailed into Belfast this week and runs at the Grand Opera House until Saturday. One hundred and eleven years after one of most tragic disasters of the 20th Century and people are still fascinated by the story of the ill fated RMS Titanic on her maiden voyage.
At the opening night the audience was full of Titanoracks, musical theatre lovers and young people who have only recently discovered James Cameron’s movie from 1997 and were expecting to see Rose and Jack! Sorry kids, and Titanic The Musical doesn’t feature Celine Dion’s ‘My Heart Will Go On’ either.
Titanic The Musical is however based on real people, their hopes, dreams and aspirations. All of them innocently unaware of the fate awaiting them, the Third Class immigrants dream of a better life in America, the Second Class imagine they too can join the lifestyles of the rich and famous, whilst the millionaire Barons of the First Class anticipate legacies lasting forever.
The drama started on Tuesday before the actors took the stage as the show was 25 minutes late in starting due to some technical difficulties. I must congratulate the poor actor who was pre-set on stage all that time and stayed in character!
Stand out performances in the show have to go to David Delve and Valda Aviks as Isidor and Ida Straus. These two are so well cast as the older couple who are still very much in love and there is such a beautiful moment when they perform their big song ’Still’. Graham Bickley is also superbly cast as Captain Edward Smith, Barnaby Hughes is brilliant as the Steward Etches and Lucie-Mae Smith is also great as Kate McGowan. Joseph Peacock also stands out as The Bellboy and sort of reminded me of a young Norman Wisdom.
Titanic The Musical has some really powerful moments and some great performances but unfortunately for me no real stand out songs, even though the show has won countless awards. This is my second time watching Titanic The Musical and once again I do feel the first half is a little long but the drama builds in Act Two ensuring that everyone is on the edge of their seats.
After two hours and twenty minutes it was standing ovations all round. You have got until Saturday to catch Titanic The Musical at Belfast’s Grand Opera House. Book your tickets here – https://www.goh.co.uk/whats-on/titanic-the-musical/
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