Photo: Cincinnati Music Theatre
The opening 15 minutes of Titanic: The Musical, recreating the tragic 1912 sinking of the doomed
ocean liner, is one of the most stirring, evocative sequences in all of musical
theater.
(The show won a 1997 Tony Award for best musical as well as four other
Tonys.) It grabs you as you meet dozens of characters boarding the ship, overflowing
with great expectations — of success, of escaping poverty, of new life in
America, of achieving dreams. But we know what awaits many of them in the
freezing North Atlantic after the collision with an iceberg.
Composer and lyricist Maury Yeston created a score that demands
numerous solo voices and a massive choral effort. It’s a “titanic” undertaking
for any theater, and it’s a challenge met admirably by Cincinnati Music
Theatre, perhaps our city’s most ambitious community theater. A cast of 37,
accompanied by 20 musicians (Charles Wilhelm conducts), all volunteers, generate
a powerful, professional choral “voice” that wrings every possible drop of
emotion from these tales of heroism and bravery, love and responsibility. (Kathy
Kramer served as vocal director.)
The musical assembles stories from this “floating city, a
human metropolis,” portraying every category of character, from passengers
wealthy and poor to the officers and crew. Each has memorable musical moments
in CMT’s production, ably staged by director Mark Femia. There’s outstanding
vocal work by Rick Kramer as the stalwart captain, Tony Bergman as a
hardworking stoker, Ron Burrage as a lonely telegraph operator, H. Scott
Nesbitt as the devoted chief steward and Patrick Carnes as the regretful first
officer, but many others could be cited.
The show has many emotional moments, perhaps best exemplified
by the devoted Isidor and Ida Straus, who after 40 years of marriage, choose certain
death together by remaining on board (“Still”). The impressive physical
production, including gorgeous period costumes (Diane Carr) and a set that
believably recreates the sinking ship, fills up the stage of the Aronoff’s
Jarson-Kaplan Theater. (Kramer, who plays the captain, also designed the set.)
CMT has done epic work on this epic tale.
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TITANIC: THE MUSICAL, presented by Cincinnati Music Theatre, continues through May 19 at the Aronoff Center for the Arts.
GREAT show. We were there on opening night and were blown away - the voices, the characters, the amazing set - at one point, the curtains opened to the grand staircase and the audience applauded the stagecraft before a live human being even stepped on stage-- wonderful and very ambitious production!
You failed to mention that Isador and Ida Straus are Beautifully played by Robert Weidle and Marcie Brooks.
I think Mr. Andrews also deserves a nod for some incredible vocals! There were many touching moments in this cast-from the America song to the mother and little boy in the lifeboat scene. A great ensemble show across the board! Congratulations CMT!