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 Shortly before midnight on April 14, 1912, the "unsinkable" Titanic grazed past an iceberg on her maiden voyage to America. Two and a half hours later she plunged into the black, icy waters of the North Atlantic. Due to a shortage of lifeboats, 1,523 souls perished in what is still one of the worst, and certainly the most infamous, maritime disasters in history.
This 88-year old tragedy has received a sudden resurgence in interest over the past three years thanks in part to a blockbuster movie and play. The movie Titanic, starring Leonardo Di Caprio and Kate Winslet, broke the all-time box office record and won several Academy Awards including Best Picture and Best Director (James Cameron). The play, Titanic: A New Musical, won five Tony Awards including Best Musical, Original Score, and Scenic Design. On August 29th, San Diego Playgoers brought this award-winning musical to the San Diego Civic Theatre. The characters are based entirely on the actual people who were aboard Titanic on her maiden voyage. The plot attempts to weave together several separate storylines to include the crew and representatives from first class, second class, and steerage. This is a little complex for a two-hour musical, and the character development for most of the main characters was a bit weak. The plot succeeded best in the characters of Edgar (David Beditz) and Alice Beane (Christa Justus), passengers of the second class (although Alice prefers to hobnob with the first class). Edgar and Alice had many of the best lines, and their relationship was the best developed and most interesting. Christa's singing and both Christa's and David's comedic talents were definitely some of the brightest parts of the show. (Christa is pictured above with Melissa Bell and Kristi Barber to her right.) Titanic's entire cast was strong in both acting and singing. In addition to Christa and David, a couple others who managed to standout were Melissa Bell and Thom Sesma. Melissa played Kate McGowen, a third class passenger and single woman who is carrying inside her a stowaway that's due to disembark in a little less than nine months. She meets, romances, and engages fellow passenger Jim Farrell (Tom Gamblin) before tragedy intervenes. She also sings a couple of beautiful numbers, including leading the steerage passengers in Lady's Maid in which they divulge their various dreams they hope to achieve upon reaching the New World. Thom Sesma held the role of Thomas Andrews, the ship's architect. His dramatic rendition of Mr. Andrews Vision, given as Titanic submerges, provided this scene with the tragedy and despair that it required. Thom also happens to be a San Diegan, and is a graduate of UCSD. Despite winning the Tony for Best Original Score (Maury Yeston), the music of Titanic was not altogether memorable. However, it was effective in creating the right mood and carrying the story along (except a couple songs in which most of the lyrics were difficult to discern). Of course, a couple of the numbers were exceptional. The haunting and tension-building end to the song Autumn, sung by the crew and passengers as they saw the iceberg looming up in front of them, was a brilliant end to the first act. But my favorite was the poignant We'll Meet Tomorrow, performed by the passengers as the women board the lifeboats and the men try to reassure their loved ones. More obvious was the reason Titanic won for Best Scenic Design (Stewart Laing). The most creative sets were in The Staircase scene and the sinking of Titanic. In The Staircase, the audience appears to be looking up through the middle of several flights of stairs from the bottom of steerage class while the actors stand over the railings from both the bottom of the stage and the left curtain. In the sinking of Titanic, the ship's deck tips dramatically as the last remaining passengers and crew desperately scramble to escape their doom. Planning on going? The more morbid of you may want to dine at the U. S. Grant Hotel's Grant Grill before the show. They will be serving the last meal served by Titanic. The main courses are Poached Salmon or Filet Mignon (call 619-239-6806 for reservations). If you are planning on going, you will have to go soon. Titanic will only be performed until Sunday, September 3rd. By Monday you will have missed the boat (ugh, sorry about that!). Rob Hopper ~ Cast ~
- Officers and Crew - Capt. E. J. Smith: William Parry 1st Officer William Murdoch: Joe Farrell 2nd Officer Charles Lightoller: Todd Gross 3rd Officer Herbert J. Pitman: Rob Donohoe Frederick Barrett, Stoker: Marcus Chait Harold Bride, Radioman: Dale Sandish Henry Etches, 1st Class Steward: Edward Conery Frederick Fleet, Lookout: Timothy A. Fitz-Gerald Quartermaster Robert Hichens: Aaron Serotsky 4th Officer Joseph Boxhall: Ken Triwush Chief Engineer Joseph Bell: David Rossmer Wallace Hartley, Orchestra Leader: David Rossmer Bandsman Bricoux: Aaron Serotsky Bandsman Taylor: Ken Triwush Stewardess Robinson: Lanene Charters Stewardess Hutchinson: Kristin Huxhold Bellboy: Rebecca Lowman - 1st Class Passengers - J. Bruce Ismay: William Youmans Thomas Andrews: Thom Sesma Isidor Straus: S. Marc Jordan Ida Straus: Kay Walbye J. J. Astor: John Antony Madeleine Astor: Christine Long Benjamin Guggenheim: Ken Krugman Mme. Aubert: Danielle Nicole Pratt John B. Thayer: Bob Lauder, Jr. Marion Thayer: Patti Diamond Jack Thayer: Lanene Charters George Widener: Scott Burkell Eleanor Widener: Allison Briner Charlotte Cardoza: Margo Skinner J. H. Rogers: Ken Triwush The Major: Rob Donohoe Edith Corse Evans: Nadine Isenegger - 2nd Class Passengers - Charles Clarke: Matthew Stocke Caroline Neville: Kim Lindsay Edgar Beane: David Beditz Alice Beane: Christa Justus - 3rd Class Passengers - Kate McGowen: Melissa Bell Kate Mullins: Kristi Barber Kate Murphey: Kate Jetmore Jim Farrell: Tom Gamblin Director: Richard Jones Musical Director: Steven Landau Choreographer: Lynne Taylor-Corbett Scenic and Costume Designer: Stewart Laing Lighting Designer: Paul Gallo Production Stage Manager: Kimberly Fisk Sound Designer: Steve Canyon Kennedy Production Supervisor: Susan Green |
