This review was originally written for The Reviews Hub: https://www.thereviewshub.com/titanic-the-musical-orchard-theatre-dartford/

It is a story almost everyone is familiar with, perhaps even more so given the horror of recent events. The glitzy and glamorous vessel, the RMS Titanic, sank in 1912, claiming more than 1,500 lives, and since its tragic ending, the story of that April night continue to fill the minds of storytellers and explorers today. Titanic the Musical does not shy away from the brutality of that icy cold night, but it brings new warmth to the story by letting us imagine the hopes and dreams of just some of the over 2000 who sailed.

This wonderful production does not need much synopsis, as the story is inevitable. However, it is the emotion that writer Peter Stone injects into this script, coupled with Maury Yeston’s score, which hits home. We follow the lives of the passengers of various classes, ranging from the super-rich to the drastically poor hoping to make a new life. The tragic dramatic irony of what is to come leaves you hoping that, on this occasion, the ship makes it.

Paul Kemble’s J Bruce Esmay is ruthless as the ship’s owner, desperate for his iconic boat to make history, with his desires being just one of the deeply rooted dramatic ironies of this piece. Esmay is a good representation of the cash-craving capitalists of the time, and Kemble captures him well.

Alongside Kemble is Graham Bickley, who is Edward Smith the ship’s captain. Due retirement, Smith faces challenges in dealing with a ship heading for oblivion while also juggling a life which is getting left behind by technological advances. Bickley is commanding in role and delivers such a complex character with aplomb as he attempts to admirably rescue the devastating situation.

The three Kates (Emily George, Niamh Long and Lucie-Mae Summer) is a good plot choice, giving insight into the lives and wishes of the working class cooped in, and arguably sacrificed, at the whim of those above them. The tragedy of the fates of all the characters is brutal, but it is those, like the Kates, whose fate is impacted because of their class, that feels particularly devastating. In a show which looks at how such disasters do not discriminate, it is a nice touch to remind us of the divisions at play on the ship.

What makes this musical standout is the incredible cast which performs a huge number of roles to bring the busy and bustling liner to life. Each performer contributes in their own way to making this a dynamic and moving production, delivering Maury Yeston’s exceptional score. Each song builds upon the one previously and what results is a wonderfully slick piece. There is a gentle beauty in each of Yeston’s songs, going from the roaring opening to the quieter, solemn, last few moments, and it is hard not to be moved by the performance of these by the talented performers.

David Woodhead’s set is poetic in that, despite its simplicity, mere colour changes are enough just to switch from the various cabins and areas of the ship. There is a sense of unity evoked in the inevitable fates of the characters, and Woodhead’s set goes some way into helping evoke this.

In a unique and sad turn of events, this production of Titanic the Musical feels more timely than ever following the loss of the Titan Submersible last week. Our fascination with this tragic point in history remains just as strong as ever, and this is a poignant and moving production with a rich design and beautiful score that captures the tragedy, and the emotions, of such an epochal event. This may not, at first glance, seem like the choice for a musical, but it is simply unmissable.