does TITANIQUE stay afloat in London? | ★★★★★ review of the hit parody musical's West End transfer

[@macmachine]

About 15 years ago I was dragged reluctantly to a 2 man show in Spain where I then lived. 1 performer, 1 pianist. It was in Spanish and called Titanic. The one guy played everything. All the characters, survivors, victims, etc. He even played the iceberg, then the ship at one point!!!. It sounds daft. But even though my Spanish then only gave me about 40% of the dialogue, the guy moved us all to tears, both of pain and joy. The pianist was beyond stellar...a one-man orchestra. Wish I'd kept the details. One of the best pieces of theatre I've ever seen.

[@CoastersandPop]

Saw this just before Xmas and it absolutely is the funniest show in London, so camp, so funny, very clever. Amazing cast and can’t recommend enough, so happy we finally got this in the UK.

[@matthewplampton955]

Whoever added in the "You ain't my mother" line deserves a raise!

[@funkyrich4500]

Saw this last weekend and it was EVERYTHING! I laughed so hard. Rose’s mother in particular was hysterical - comedy masterclass 👏

[@meltyholic]

always great to see another episode of your reviews!!

[@MickeyJoTheatre]

Thank you, hope you enjoy!

[@dawdlerific7071]

I saw it in Toronto with my sister and my face and stomach hurt in the best way from laughing so hard for so long

[@ingaisakov7995]

Regarding the jewellery bit, I saw it in Toronto. Cal said he bought it in Costco (a wholesale store). The joke landed well. 😂

[@carolynedwards2290]

Your review conveys the joy that the show brings.❤

[@jokerface20]

having seen the Aussie production 4 times already and seeing it again in 2 weeks I'm so glad the west end version is also hilarious, easily the funniest musical I've ever seen

[@Leeh270]

I wondered if Rose's mothers rant scene was improv as when I went it was about wicked and the disastrous reception to the devil wears prada musical. I loved the show!!! Would go back repeatedly 😊

[@VeronikaHer]

Oh I think he mentioned something about Prada when I saw it too! Possibly something about how he's screwed because he placed a bet that it was going to be a hit?

[@sianintomystery]

Saw it tonight (the day after you posted this) and saved this to watch after - completely agree on the five stars, absolutely hilarious!

[@bennybenedictcgn]

I came over from germany for the first preview on december 9th and it was everything i hoped and more!! So so good, so so funny. I thought the humor was maybe just a little bit TOO silly TOO often but then they are all giving a 10/10 leading person vocal performance on top of it which sorta legitimizes the 180% campness which otherwise could (could!) seem a little bit like an amateurish over the top thing whitout nuance. 5 stars, cant wait to go back

[@dslatts5361]

Hey saw it yesterday - it was so fun/camp/amazing. Can’t wait to go again.x

[@MickeyJoTheatre]

Glad you enjoyed the show!

[@checkmarks182]

Booked as a wildcard for my Mum's birthday and we both absolutely loved it and laughed so much. Though I hoped she didn't get some of the sexual innuendos!!

[@VeronikaHer]

Titanique was hilarious! Watched it back in mid December but already had "Claire's" 😅 Completely agree! My absolute highlight was Stephen Guarino as Ruth having the "You think this isn't fair?!" Meltdown. "*Insert famous actor* is playing the palladium and I'm here in the freaking Criterion wearing pantyhose?!" No clue how much of it was improvised but at one point he walked up to the musicians, took their sheet music, shouted "we have to memorise our line so what makes you think you can have cheat sheets?!" And threw the sheet music away. The musicians were cracking up to the point the show waited for them to calm down so it could continue. Him saying "did you go outside? This is not Sunset boulevard"! Had me rolling. The pinky holding nod to Wicked was also hilarious. Completely missed out on the whole America's Top Model gag as I've never watched it but the audience seemed to respond really well to that. I might have to do 1-2.more rush visits to see what is actually improvised 😅

[@mhawang8204]

I saw the production in Toronto! The show was absolutely jam packed with jokes nonstop. You have to jive with that type of zany humour to enjoy it. It’s a hilarious, unserious show 😂🤣 Our Kathy Bates was played by Erica Peck, who played Scaramouch in We Will Rock You. Her voice was incredible and unforgettable. Her number was the highlight for me ❤

[@amandapalmerau]

Saw the Sydney production a couple of weeks ago and absolutely loved it. Kooky Crazy! The Jeweller in Sydney is Prouds… a cheaply jewellery store that is in Almost every suburban shopping centre. Season has been extended twice so safe to say it’s going well here.

[@EyeGlassTrainofMind]

WAIT WAIT WAIT...Victor Garber?!?! Canadian legend Victor Garber who played Thomas Andrews in the film plays Cpt. Smith in this? For that alone--I must go see this. No, but truly, seeing how much fun you had in this review really makes me want to see this show. Thank you!

[@MickeyJoTheatre]

I should clarify: Victor Garber is the name of the character in the show, as a joke about the film. He isn't in it personally.

[@EyeGlassTrainofMind]

​@@MickeyJoTheatre ahh I just got to the part where you go role by role and now I got it! Thank you for the clarification, though! 🎉

[@losfp]

I've seen Titanique 3 times. Once in NYC, and twice in Sydney. Such a fun show! It has absolutely no right to be as good and entertaining as it is! FYI the jeweller gag in Australia is "Prouds" :)

[@frankennyg1]

I've seen over 100 professional productions of musicals mainly on Broadway, and other parts of the US, and on the West End, and Titanique is one of my all time favorites! I've seen it 7x in NYC and guess what, I'm going again next month! It's just a perfectly hilarious musical with amazing performers.

[@robinbickel4594]

I agree Titanique is hysterical. Even if a joke sailed over my head, it didn't matter because one second later there was another joke. Best part? Tina Turner as the iceberg. The funniest show I ever saw was the original Broadway cast production of Noises Off with Dorothy Loudon, Victor Garber and Brian Murray. I laughed so hard that I fell out of my seat.

[@chuuu_beth]

Booking my ticket this weekend to see it next month! Looking forward to the LOL’s!

[@glenndsmithuk]

We are off to see it next weekend. Super excited!

[@ilseruwalder1499]

We saw it at the Criterion and loved it! I would love to go to see it again, and I will if it extends! And that cast ❤❤❤

[@juancarlosgarza5511]

I just saw the show last month Off-broadway and it was amazing!! It was hilarious and much better than what I expected

[@JenniferCousinsRocha]

Also saw it Off-Broadway last month, after having seen Swept Away earlier in the day. It was a wonderful “shows boat” day! My favorite in the show was Lisa Howard as Molly Brown.

[@nicolealie7138]

Now that I've seen your review, I feel like I can recommend the show to my cousins in London. I saw the show twice. Once off-Broadway, I did a double header and saw "Oh Mary" in it's first week of previews and then some friends and I caught the late showing of Titanique. Needless to say, I laughed so hard that night. I saw the show again when a production came to my home city of Toronto and it was very good. I thought the Toronto cast wasn't quite as strong as the New York one but both times Rose's mother was the star of the show for me. I really hope this finds an audience in London. When I saw it in Toronto it was sold out and it extended its run so I think it is doing well here.

[@gamera3000]

Saw it in Sydney with a hugely camp audience, many of whom I got the impression were personal friends of the cast. I absolutely loved it but definitely felt I missed a lot of the gags as a mid 60s straight man who just loves musical theatre , who never watched drag race or the Celine live DVD. Have recommended it every opportunity I get.

[@christopheryoung4563]

I saw first preview (you held the door for me in the loo but that’s not the right location to say hi) and it sky rocketed to the best thing I saw last year never seen something so slick and funny for the first preview

[@cdstano]

Absolutely loved this show, funniest thing I've seen in a long time and all of the voices just blew me away. A question for you though, was the ad lib part different each time you saw it in the UK? Do actors truly ad lib that bit or do they have a collection of maybe ten different skits they could choose from but they won't know until it happens on the night which one they're going with? It was very impressive either way, but just wondered about that part.

[@charlesanderson5816]

I saw it last week. Has to be one of the funniest show it town. It has a fantastic cast, with some of the best British musical talents,having the time of their lives. By coincidence Victor Garber on of the real life characters played by Darren Bennett in the show, I met last week while going into Oedipus. I am going back again in February as I enjoyed so much

[@RaymondNYC1]

I'm prob. the only gay New Yorker who hasn't (YET) seen Titanique. lol But everyone I know who has seen it has loved it. I remember when it first opened in NYC at Asylum NYC (former home of Upright Citizens Brigade - an alternative comedy venue in a basement space under a supermarket). To see how this little show has grown so massively popular is a great testament to its talented creators. I promise I will see it soon!

[@bbcbbc1717]

Saw the Australia production in early October = was hilarious!!

[@thomasschwardt177]

I saw the show last week and I booked it for March 1st again. It was very entaining, joyful, excellent cast all of them. If you like a musical comedy you are in a perfect place! Be sure to see the movie Titanic before you go to the musical!

[@richmuddiman2706]

We saw Titanique just before Christmas. The Claire’s reference was in it then. This definitely is the campest, most hilarious Show in London ! All the Cast are Brilliant with incredible singing and acting. A 5 star 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 show. It’s a Brilliant Show !! ‘ Shall we go for it ‘ 😂 Absolutely! We’ve booked to see Titanique again.

[@liammark96]

Quite literally the funniest show in London right now 💙 with the second funniest show Book of Mormon just down the road

[@LPM12]

I’m making my 5th voyage to Titanique tomorrow, here in NY. Having followed this show from early workshop concerts at Green Room 42 (with Stephen Guarino btw) and considering this show combines two of my favorite things (film and performing artist) it’s just the perfect night out. Damn shame they didn’t record a cast album. Maybe the West End can fix that…

[@sheismymom]

I wish I got to see it in Toronto :(

[@GoneWhenAutumnCame]

If this had come out in the 90s and they'd said Elizabeth Duke (Argos) it would've got a laugh. 😂

[@Jeshikamo]

I keep putting the Sydney run on the backburner because there has just been so much theatre happening and it hasn't been the priority. It's got a few months left so I'll definitely have to get onto it.

[@mithramusic5909]

How did so many people come out of Titanic believing that Rose promised she would hold Jack's hand for the rest of her life

[@liammark96]

They didn’t believe that. Rose promised to hold on to the memory of Jack for the rest of her life, which she did

[@mithramusic5909]

@liammark96 well, the writers and audiences of Titanique seem to think so

[@martinjb55]

If anyone has seen the film, it is clear that it's metaphorically. She's holding on to life and her future.! I don't see why this would be any different unless it's been done tongue in cheek?

[@lucyinthesky9]

Titanique is coming to Paris in the spring I can't wait!!

[@MickeyJoTheatre]

Indeed it is! I hope it goes swimmingly!

[@IvyroseGullwhacker]

I am a longtime amateur Titanic scholar and maritime history buff. I hold the disaster in extreme reverence and appreciate the James Cameron film, even if it perpetrates some historical misconceptions. I feel like this musical would be grossly offensive to me...and I would laugh my ass off, white wine in hand, on my feet by the end 😂 If you cannot have a moment to laugh at your passion, you're doing it wrong IMO. Wish I could see this!!

[@robertravas7516]

Does the Celine character talk in a french accent like she does? Sounds like a fabulous show!

[@susanpolastaples9688]

Roger de Breeze from The Producers sounds like Victor Garber

[@donoakes85]

The character Ruth is the show stealer for me “lock it up Cu*t” 💀💀💀 Our cast in Australia have been phenomenal

[@ceilidancr]

I’m glad to hear Titanique is not too mean-spirited towards the movie, because I want to see it in Chicago later this year, but I also unironically love the movie and watch it every few years when I need a good cry. I love a good parody, but I can’t stand a parody that clearly doesn’t have any love for its source material (cough cough & Juliet cough cough). I also maintain that if they both got on the door, their combined weight would leave them both still partly submerged in the water so they would both have frozen to death, but that’s neither here nor there 😅

[@beabravo6759]

Was there a review of the original production over here?

[@briansit762]

Ahoy… seaman, straight ahead!😂

[@kazza6078]

I am begging for titanique to come to san francisco, I'll post that wish every place remotely related

[@phoenixfritzinger9185]

Wait y’all have Claire’s over there on the other side of the pond?

[@NYLAFL]

Hi!!!!!!! This is Stephen GUarino. THANK YOUUUUUUU. GOD BLESS YA! COffee date?!

[@minirth.maggie]

Ok, in the States, Claire's is a cheap mall jewelry store whet you could also get your ears pierced. Cheap bangles, very sparkly. Is that what your Claire's is as well? Jarrod's is a superstore for jewelry and it is advertised as if it is the height of luxury but it is not. This show sounds delightful.

[@millyrowland2504]

It is, cheap sparkly jewellery and there’s so many of them as well

[@MickeyJoTheatre]

Same Claire's - the concensus is you can get your ears pierced there but you probably shouldn't.

[@joekr4551]

Jackie Burns will always be my favorite Celine

[@MickeyJoTheatre]

I'm sure she was outstanding, sadly I've not yet seen her in anything!

[@joekr4551]

@MickeyJoTheatre I wanted to fly over there to see burlesque but timing just didn't work out

[@PrivatePrivate-so4if]

Lauren Drew is FANTASTIC!

[@millyrowland2504]

💙

[@silenthillxd6057]

Oh my god I must be kooky crazy, because Titanique left me cold 😬 Don't get me wrong, the cast is amazing, but the humour did nothing for me. It just felt forced and pretty predictable. Most of the jokes made me groan I found them cringeworthy. Shame, I was really looking forward to it! But hey, guess I'm just one cold iceburg bitch 😅 Or I have bad taste in theatre, I mean I did love The Tempest so that's always an option 🤣

[@MickeyJoTheatre]

Haha, doesn't make you kooky krazy!

[@mgbchoralmusic6443]

I just saw it in Toronto and felt exactly the same. Celine was amazing, the music was great but camp has to be witty and clever and I felt it was completely absent in this show. Too much mugging and the crude groan inducing script was very weak. I wanted to like it but just couldn't. Some people were howling and others just sat there. I felt there were only a couple of genuine laughs and a handful of chuckles.

[@heartofstone_]

Same! I'm glad I'm not the only one who didn't enjoy the show. The majority of the audience during my visit did though. I thought the cast was phenomenal, it sounded really great (sound design and mixing wise), but apart from that it didn't do it for me. But I guess that's okay 😅🤷‍♀️ Happy for everyone who loves the show, but I'm thankful I only paid for cheap Rush tickets 🙊

[@darrenbertram7289]

I had a ticket for last Sunday but didn't go because of no SWR trains (spent three hours getting to the Barbican on Saturday and did not want to relive that experience!) From everything Mickey says in this video, I'm glad I didn't go, sounds like I'd have the exact same reaction as you! 🙂