Titanic The Musical at the Mayflower Theatre Southampton Review

Reviewed by Carolyn Dewey

I didn’t know what to expect from this new musical on the Titanic, even though everyone knows the outcome of the Titanic. I have seen the film, but was not a real fan, so how would they make this show an entertaining musical. I sat in the stalls and had a great view about half way up or so, as I sat down we could see an actor on stage already in the simple set, with the steal studded looking hull and a metal structure deck like structure which acted as the inside deck and outside of the ship, then below this a simple desk was used. With each scene the furniture changed according to the room in the scene, be it the dining room or the coal room. The lighting seemed simple but effective in creating the mood. As if started I thought some people were late, it turned out to be actors joining the stage, this was a great effect making the audience more involved with the scene giving it more depth, this was done on a few occasions. I enjoyed listening to the staggering facts like the amounts of all the provisions from market taken on board.

The music set each scene well, starting with Every Age, showing the importance of the ship and how state of the art it was, also what pride the staff had of being on board and how important a step it was for many of the passengers, who were hoping for a new life in New York. The characters were all expertly portrayed, and the array of costumes I found interesting from the fancy evening dresses in 1st and second class, to the brownness but neat and tidy 3rd class. There were of course all the passengers the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd class, portrayed plus all the staffing needed for all the services, the all-important telecommunications room staff, the coal rooms, the engine room, the captain’s quarters, the dining areas, and the helm of the ship as well as the man who funded the making of the Titanic.

I had a few favourite characters, the coal man, who had a lovely strong voice, and the elderly couple – (The Guggenheims) were amongst them, oh and the telecommunication man. At the end of the performance a memorial list of all the people that died on board filled the stage. The music played out till the end as it did onboard till the ship power went out. I really enjoyed this more informed historic version of the Titanic story, it certainly was entertaining, and at the end the cast got a deserved standing ovation. I would certainly recommend this musical.

Rating: 5/5

Tickets cost from £19.50 to £49.50 (booking fees may apply).

Titanic The Musical is at the Mayflower Theatre in Southampton from 12-21 April 2018, for more information or to book tickets visit www.mayflower.org.uk or call the box office on 02380 711811.

Mayflower Theatre, Commercial Road, Southampton, SO15 1GE | 02380 711811