A campy, nonsensical adaptation of James Cameron’s romantic disaster film, Titanic, docks at London’s Criterion Theatre until June. Titanique, a musical parody, retells the fictional romance between the upper-class Rose and penniless artist Jack through the discography of Céline Dion. As the hilariously wacky Dion, Lauren Drew narrates the “real” story of the fateful voyage, commandsing the show with her cheeky asides to the audience, comical facial expressions, and powerhouse rendition of “My Heart Will Go On”. The cast recreate scenes such as the iconic “Draw me like one of your French girls” moment, with Rose (Kat Ronney) showcasing her comic timing and bizarre poses while Jack (Rob Houchen) attempts to draw her with limited artistic skills. The fast-paced slide show of queer and pop culture references puts the audience in stitches for the course of the 100-minute performance.
A particular favourite was Drew’s brilliantly improvised “spooky” monologue between Jack and Rose, featuring comedic mentions of Strictly and Traitors host Claudia Winkleman being sighted without her fringe, and Boris Johnson announcing the twenty-seventh lockdown. The brooding rivalled dynamic of self-absorbed Cal (Jordan Luke Gage) and Jack fighting for Rose’s affection is perfectly balanced in a battle of idiocy and camp. The show’s inherent queerness is unmistakeable, as Cal appears more engaged in his Grindr notifications and his obsession to make it to New York early enough for his hair appointment in SoHo, than his romantic pursuit of Rose. Sporting light drag, Stephen Guarino, as Rose’s overbearing mother Ruth is a hilarious portrayal—even impersonating White Lotus’ Jennifer Coolidge as he incorporates the fan favourite line “these gays are trying to murder me” into their big scene.
The vocal chops of Charlotte Wakefield’s Molly Brown, mother of Cal gifted us a heartful rendition of “All by Myself”, with a hilarious twist as she paddles to safety. Notably, Everybody’s Talking About Jamie star Layton Williams gives a standout performance in a variety of roles from camp museum guide to a Tina Turner–inspired rock ‘n’ roll “Iceberg B*tch”, with a fiery performance of “River Deep, Mountain High”. As the ship collides with the iceberg, there’s even an unhinged “lip sync for your life” between Cal and Jack in which Williams (as RuPaul) determines the fate of the rivalled lovers. From the glittering piñata-style heart of the ocean adorning the Criterion stage, to the effervescent cast, this show is the epitome of “camp chaos”—and a must watch!