How did the Titanic sink on Broadway? — Page 3

Saw it this weekend in OKC and they gave the effect of the sinking by lifting deck chairs, floatation devices and other loose articles by rope in the air. Pretty neat!

At the very first preview, that little boat made a return appearance at the finale in case anyone needed to visualize what happened, I suppose. The audience reaction was not the one expected and the little boat was cut from the final scene. In that period, I tended to go to a lot of 1st previews. There were 2 that night and I had an invite to go to Steel Pier, across the street. So I missed the little boat sinking. It is one of my two greatest early preview regrets (the other being not seeing the goat when there was still a stuffed goat when the wife comes in with it).

The small model of the ship that sailed across the stage and 'hit the iceberg' out of sight stage left to close Act 1 always seemed unnecessary to me. The reaction of the crew to the impending collision, the audio of the crash, and immediately going to black would have been enough. The audience pretty much knows the story without the visual of the little boat.

When the lifts adjusted the slope of the deck during the listing and sinking, the pitch was pretty steep. The cast really had hold on and maintain their balance while singing that sweeping score.

Scarlet Leigh said: "I am still amazed it won Best Musical that season. This total bore was the Best Musical winner and Jekyll and Hyde was not even nominated."

Jekyll & Hyde had some issues as well but I still maintain the Broadway version was the best version of the book and score aside from the use of "Good 'N' Evil" instead of "Bring on the Men." I've never understood why future productions and the licensed version reverted back to the earlier book instead of the book used on Broadway.

CATSNYrevival said: "Scarlet Leigh said: "I am still amazed it won Best Musical that season. This total bore was the Best Musical winner and Jekyll and Hyde was not even nominated."

Jekyll & Hyde had someissues as well but I still maintain the Broadway version was the best version of the book and score aside from the use of "Good 'N' Evil" instead of"Bring on the Men." I've never understood why future productions and the licensed version reverted back to the earlier book instead of the book used on Broadway."



The show was not perfect but after having seen the pre-Broadway tour of Jekyll & Hyde and then seeing the Broadway production I was floored at how they destroyed it. It has been a while but They used most, if not all, of the music from the concept album. The sets set a darker tone. That Board of Governors scene was great on the tour. And of course Bring on the Men and the transformation mirror (That they lost the right to use on Broadway). That scene almost got a standing ovation the night I saw it and I heard it got a few while the show was in town. I can't listen to the Broadway Cast recording.

Still upset that I never got to see TITANIC on Broadway. Used to love when Letterman would check in nightly to see if the ship sank!

uncageg said: "That Board of Governors scene was great on the tour. And of course Bring on the Men and the transformation mirror (That they lost the right to use on Broadway). "



Okay, not to hijack the thread, but could you go more in detail on this, I haven't heard this story at all.

theatregoer3 said: "I saw the Broadway production and agree this was the most effective “effect” of the evening. It was chilling."

I saw the first national tour and the effect was the same. The audience was dead silent. It was almost terrifying.

Watching that video reminded me of seeing the OBC. I loved the show but thought the staging was really bad. Recently Signature Theatre in Arlington showed just how bad the OB production was by staging the musical perfectly. There was rumor that a revised version of the Signature production would hit Broadway this year. I hope it does.

I still think Titanic has the best score of any Broadway musical since 1997, with Ragtime, Caroline, or Change, The Light in the Piazza, Gray Gardens and A Catered Affair following. The show had its staging issues but that score is superb and memorable.