Stage Review - Titanic the Musical (Tacoma Musical Playhouse)

Stage Review - Titanic the Musical
Presented By: Tacoma Musical Playhouse (TMP), Tacoma, WA
Date Reviewed: Saturday, April 29, 2023
Reviewed By: Greg Heilman

There’s an old joke about James Cameron’s 1997 film Titanic, that the movie itself took longer at 3 hours 15 minutes than the “unsinkable ship” took to bubble below the surface after hitting its infamous iceberg in 1912. That’s true, of course, the actual time from impact to sinking was a mere 2 hours and 40 minutes, though of course that is a matter of debate in some circles. In any case, four days into its maiden voyage, the ship that couldn’t sink, as we all know, sank. Cameron’s film, with all of its Academy Awards and millions of dollars of profit, was a sensationalized view of the moments before, during, and after that incredible tragedy, whereas the musical that is currently on stage at Tacoma Musical Playhouse (TMP) takes a more human approach to the same set of events. Additionally, it also clocks in at about 2 hours and 35 minutes (with intermission), so it’s definitely not as long and tedious as the film. The musical, which opened on Broadway the same year as Cameron’s film, with a book by Peter Stone and music and lyrics by Maury Yeston, runs on stage at TMP through May 7. The production is directed by TMP Managing Artistic Director Jon Douglas Rake, with lighting by John Chenault, costumes by Julles M, scenic design by Dennis Kurtz, Erik Furuheim, and Jon Douglas Rake, and directed musically by Jeffrey Stvrtecky.

The Broadway version of the musical also won a number of awards, for Best Musical, Best Book, Best Scenic Design, Best Orchestrations, and Best Score. And that score is definitely worthy of its Tony. From the prelude through to the end of this musical, the sweeping nature of the score acts as a thread connecting each scene and each song. It provides mood and context, exactly as it should. Titanic the Musical itself is almost a sing-through show, with much less dialogue than singing, especially in the first act, and it’s a good thing that Jon has put together a cast as good as this one is. As a group, their singing and harmony are in sync and well balanced. There are some exceptional individual performances, sure, but this is one of the most steady and consistent casts that I’ve seen in a show this season.

Titanic is also a show in which the creative and technical components work well. The set is creatively designed, built on two levels, the top acting as the ship’s rail as well as its bridge, and the bottom has been setup to represent any number of interior spaces, from the first class smoker’s salon and dining room, to other various hallways and corridors in second and third class. Doors to the right and left of the stage represent cabins in each class and there are a few other set pieces that slide in from the left or right, a radio room and crow’s nest, filling out of the space allotted at TMP with all of the important pieces of a ship headed for its doom. The beauty of this set design is that by alternating scenes that utilize the top half, lights on the section below can dim and sets changed, and vice versa. As a result, there are only one or two noticeable set changes during the entire 2 hours and 40 minutes, otherwise the transitions are made with the audience’s attention directed elsewhere on stage. All of this helps to create a pace that is quick and steady. One more point on the set, and it may be one of the best examples of a single set piece used to enhance the level of storytelling at this level that I’ve seen. The ship’s rail and bridge piece, simply an elevated platform on stage, is used to show the ship listing, the lowering of a lifeboat, and the extent of damage caused by the collision with the iceberg. It’s an example of how the simplest thing, when used creatively, can really enhance a production. John Chenault’s lighting and Amy Silveria’s sound designs also support this show very well, lighting used to draw the audience’s attention to on stage locations and to provide mood lighting for each of the scenes, and sound dramatizing the ship’s run-in with the iceberg. All excellently designed and worked into the show.

Yes, Titanic tells the story of a ship destined to take its place in the history books, it provides some insight into the reasons why it happened, some of the shortcuts and demands placed on the captain and crew by the ship’s owner and designer. But more than that, it’s about the tragedy of the human condition, the division of classes and entitlements of the rich. It’s also about hope, the hope of a new life in America, where a pregnant woman can get a new start, where a couple can step out of the shadows and get married. Each of these stories play out among the Titanic’s passengers, divided into three classes, the idea being that each remain separate, never to even randomly run into each other. First class is where the rich travel, including John Astor, Benjamin Gugenheim, and J. Bruce Ismay, director of the White Star Line, owner of the Titanic. Second class are the more middle class passengers, not allowed to mingle with first class, but with access to more areas of the ship. Here, Alice Beane longs for a climb to the ranks of the affluent while her husband is more than content with their station. Another second class passenger, Charles Clark, is traveling to America to marry his fiancé Caroline, their relationship not accepted by his father. Finally, in third class, or steerage, are three young ladies, all Irish and all named Kate. One of them, Kate McGowan, who takes to another third class passenger, Jim Farrell, is pregnant and looking for a life in America where she can raise her unborn child.

Titanic works very well as an ensemble piece, Jon Douglas Rake has cast this with a more than capable group of talented actors and they deliver consistently from start to finish. As good as everyone is, there are some standout performances that deserve recognition. Ship’s captain E.J. Smith is played here by Erik Furuheim, his booming baritone solid enough that while his microphone didn’t work during the first act of Saturday’s matinee, his voice, both speaking and singing, could be heard throughout the auditorium. He also portrayed this character very well, capturing the stoicism of a captain, the frustration with not having full control of his ship, and the resignation of what is to happen to him and his crew as a result of something that, while it wasn’t his fault, was his responsibility. Joe Woodland’s Major brings a bit of light heartedness to the show during his conversations with the other first class passengers. Rebecca Maiten’s Alice Beane is very memorable, a character with a big personality and Rebecca brings a big voice to the role and performs it beautifully. The third class standout for me has to be Meagan Castillo as Kate McGowan. Meagan nailed her Irish accent and delivered her lines with near perfect timing, very well done. A large portion of the cast does double or even triple duty, handling roles as part of the ship’s crew along with others in the various travel classes, so there’s a certain agility that has to be exercised, note Mauro Bozzo, whose wonderful dancing on is on display in one scene, followed quickly by a turn as Second Officer Lightoller, all of this requiring a quick costume change and a flip of persona from one scene directly to the next. It’s a substantially large group, twenty six at my count, and to make them look as good as they did and especially sound so balanced together is not such an easy task, but through Jon Douglas Rake’s direction and Jeffrey Stvrtecky’s musical guidance, the show is very well put together and executed. Kudos to all.

Titanic the Musical does in a little over two hours what James Cameron’s 1997 film couldn’t even do in over three. It tells the story of one of the greatest tragedies of the early 20th century, and does so from a human perspective, with a great deal of poignancy and a whole lot of heart. Musically, with its sweeping score and wonderfully orchestrated and performed musical numbers, it’s an extremely entertaining show, and when it’s designed and performed as well as the production currently onstage at Tacoma Musical Playhouse is, it’s definitely worth taking the time to come out and see.

Titanic the Musical runs through May 7 at Tacoma Musical Playhouse. For more information and tickets visit https://tmp.org/.