What do you say to taking chances? Tye Blue, Marla Mindelle, and Constantine Rousouli, enthusiastically said “Yes”—a decision that has served them quite well. The authors and stars are behind the surprise hit of the year, Titanique: Une Parodie Musicale, a show that is almost certain to become a mainstay of the downtown theater world.
The hugely entertaining comedy reimagines the blockbuster 1997 film featuring Leonardo DiCaprio as Jack Dawson and Kate Winslet as his nearly unattainable love interest, Rose DeWitt Bukater. In this version, Rousouli is Jack and Alex Ellis is Rose. Also, Celine Dion (Mindelle) is on board – along with her bountiful catalog of songs. (Yes. It’s completely over the top and laugh out loud funny.)
Titanique began on the West Coast in 2017 playing to modest venues. It later moved to New York, where it grabbed attention in various cabaret venues. During lockdown—when live performance fans were suffering from standard zoom theater readings -the cast offered a much needed jolt of excitement. In full costume and sets, they performed the show via livestream from New York’s Le Poisson Rouge.
Since June 2022, Chelsea’s Asylum Theater has been home to the loving parody, where it has been extended numerous times. It will now play here through November 13th. Later this month, on November 20th it moves to the Daryl Roth theater in Union Square.
There are several reasons why the show works so well. To start, the source material is a beloved property. Many of us can recall waiting days to score a ticket at our local cineplex to view what would soon become a box office juggernaut. Celine’s signature song, “My Heart Will Go On” jumped to the top of the Billboard music charts and made the already established diva an even bigger star.
Mindelle delivers a Celine that is as exaggerated and over the top as the Canadian born singer herself. Rousouli and Ellis expertly complement Mindelle with first rate comedy and fine singing. The same can be said for the whole ensemble, comprised mainly of Broadway and National Tour veterans. Thanks to Blue’s careful direction and a smart cast, this ship always stays within the waters of genuine parody, never pushing it to the point where it is no longer amusing.
Nicholas Connell’s orchestrations, arrangements and musical supervision maintain the integrity, joy, and nostalgia of Celine’s original hits (They are too numerous to count). Still, the show clocks in at a breezy 90 minutes.
While the show has a distinct gay camp sensibility and some mild adult content, It can still be enjoyed by anyone who simply wants to unwind, unwire, and enjoy a night on the town.
For tickets and information, visit the show’s website: Titanique Musical.