★★★★

Words by Constance Drugeot

After opening in several cities across the globe, including Off-Broadway in New York City, in Sydney, Toronto, and London’s West End, Titanique finally made its way to France! The Olivier Awards-winning musical recently opened at the historical Theatre du Lido on the Champs-Élysées in Paris with an all-English cast. 

The theatre du Lido is known for hosting many musical productions in the past few years, such as Hello Dolly! and The Rocky Horror Show, although the venue didn’t start as a theatre. Le Lido used to be a cabaret where famous French singers and dancers performed since 1946. Its unique design, with a low stage and the audience gathered around tables instead of the usual row of seats, allows for special interactions with the public. Throughout the show, the performers would go up and down the aisles to and from the stage, sit down next to some audience members and even chat with them, which only added to the fun experience! 

Although being a Parisian born and raised, it was my first time in this iconic venue! And it was also my first time seeing Titanique, as I wasn’t able to catch it in London, where it won an Olivier Award for Best New Entertainment or Comedy Play. As we were invited to watch the show, we decided to go in blind and be surprised – oh, and we were definitely surprised! 

As a jukebox musical, Titanique retells the story of the Titanic but told by none other than Céline Dion, who doesn’t need a prompt to burst into her songs at any given moment. Written by Tye Blue, Marla Mindelle and Constantine Rousouli, the show doesn’t hold back. And when I say that, I mean it. From beginning to end, the show was packed with hilarious liners, infinite pop culture references, and below-the-belt jokes. 

Made not to be taken seriously, this parody of the iconic 1997 movie Titanic is your ultimate feel-good comedy, although the chaos happening on the stage might not be for everyone. As the show just opened in Paris, I am really keen to see how Parisians will respond to the humour. We have an eccentric Céline Dion, narrating the show in an uniquely crazy way, always accompanied by her backup singers, a seaman who doubles up as the Iceberg (yes, you heard that right), a seemingly gay Jack and an easy-going Rose. 

Titanique is a lot to take in in one evening, and for an unused audience, you can get lost within all the madness very quickly. All the jokes and references didn’t land quite as they should have, and a lot were lost on the audience. At some point, you are wondering what kind of show you are watching due to the eccentricities happening on stage. Although it was quite nice to have some of the references being “Frenchified” and recognising the names of some of the brands or supermarkets here.

However, there is one thing we all agreed on: the talent on that stage! The cast is made up of English performers, some even from the West End, and all were absolutely owning the stage. Céline *f*cking* Dion – as she calls herself – is played by the iconic Astrid Harris, and I can promise you, she will absolutely steal the show – and your heart! From the moment she arrives and starts singing ‘I’m Alive’, not only does she make you laugh until you cry, but she also shows off some amazing vocals. Harris’ sassiness, charisma, and hilarious comedic timings makes her the perfect person to interpret Céline Dion. And that’s nothing compared to her voice, I will personally never get tired of hearing her belt out ‘My Heart Will Go On’. 

Another highlight of the show is definitely the oddly-paired couple of Jack Dawson and Rose DeWitt Bukater, respectively interpreted by Oliver Bales and Jess Aubrey. Both make a very funny duo, who, in all fairness, gave me more of a “crazy best friends” rather than lovers. Although I did enjoy their dance moves during the ball scene with “The Beauty and the Beast” – everything was completely hilarious from beginning to end. Their naivety in some scenes was very entertaining to watch, but also their raw moments, such as their rendition of “To Love You More”. 

I was also particularly impressed by Jenny O’Leary and Damien Winchester, who respectively play Molly Brown and the Seaman, who not only never missed an opportunity to make the audience laugh but also had absolutely incredible vocals! The capacity of these performers to switch roles and characters is epic, and their boldness throughout the show isn’t missed. But honestly, the entire cast was top-notch! Kudos to everyone involved, including Tim Walton, Andrew Pepper, Sam Ferriday, Samantha Mbolekwa, David Ouch, and Corrine Priest. 

Whether you had a blast at the show or were a bit confused by the peculiar humour and chaos of the show, the audience was on their feet by the end, applauding a very well done parody and a talented cast. Titanique runs at the Theatre du Lido in Paris until June 22nd- and in London’s West End- and remains a true spectacle to see if you’re looking for a fun and *chaotic* night out!