Titanic - Southwark Playhouse

I wasnt sure what to expect from the new chamber version of this show, but i was very impressed. The first 15 minutes had some of the best singing i have heard in years. The choral work was stunning and as cliched as it is, it gave me chills!

The first half was excellent, but the second half couldnt match it. Obviously its the harder part to stage in a small space, but it didnt seem to have the dramatic impact it should. There were also a few sound cue problems and 1 actor didnt appear when he should so there was quick bit of vamping from the band until he came on.

The cast were excellent all round, especially Greg Castiglioni as Mr Andrews. His character built from the start, leading to an amazing climax of Mr Andrews Vision. James Austen-Murray played Barrat and one of the first class passengers, and must spend the show dirtying up his face and washing it off again, all night! He has a great voice but his Barrat's Song had 2 guys with shovels dancing around him, which really didnt work for me. Simon Green was a convincing Ismay, forever pushing for the ship to go faster. The diction and sound were first class.

I will definitely be going back to see the show again, hopefully all the small kinks will be gone and it wont be quite so hot inside.

Loved it, loved it, loved it. Grand, sweeping and epic while intimate at the same time, a hard job to pull off but Thom Southerland's managed it in spades here. Five stars from me.


Titanic

Updated On: 8/1/13 at 08:56 AM

4 Stars - The Guardian
http://www.theguardian.com/stage/2013/aug/01/titanic-review

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According to one review, I Give You My Hand was reinstated. Is this true?


Review in question

I saw this tonight on the hottest day of the year so far and the production felt it was done in the Titanic engine room, a bit of a disappointment for my first trip to the new Southwark Playhouse, as could of done with air conditioning.

The show was good and well executed by a familiar fringe cast.

Funny enough Titanic originally run just under 2 tears at the Lunt Fontanne theater on Broadway and won a best musical, I can guarantee you if the Americans built the Titanic, this would of capsized in under 2 weeks on Broadway and won none Tony awards.

Despite the worst attempts of

a) Southwark Playhouse's shambolic front-of-house
b) my fellow audience members' irritating behavior

I had a great time finally getting to see Maury Weston's TITANIC - with the added treat of Maury Yeston in attendance for a Q&A (although that too was hampered by the absence of a mic to make him audible). All very odd as the cast are mic'ed up to the gills.

Great performances from James Austen-Murray (Barrett), Matthew Crowe (Harold Bride), Celia Graham (Alice Beane), Simon Green (Ismay), James Hume (Etches), Sion Lloyd (Murdoch), Philip Rham (Captain Smith) and Victoria Serra (Kate McGowan)