Bradford Alhambra – until Saturday 28 July
5*****
I was lucky enough to see the start of the Titanic tour in Southampton and thought it was magnificent then, but seeing it again, as it makes its penultimate stop in Bradford, I see just how magnificent it has really become.
The original cast have grown into their roles, adding nuances, emotions and real personalities to their characters. These are real people, who really suffered and you care about the fate of every single one of these people.
This is one of the best examples of an ensemble piece, and it’s hard to single any one person out for praise when all are outstanding. But I must mention Jacinta Whyte, who is newly playing my favourite character Alice Beane. Alice wants excitement and to rub elbows with millionaires. Her self prophetic exclamation that getting in to the First Class salon maybe the last thing they ever do is heartbreaking.
Watching Kieran Brown fall apart as William Murdoch, and his needless suicide pulls at the heartstrings too. Although I must admit I love this show and I tend to start crying from the opening bars of In Every Age to the standing ovation of the reprise of Godspeed Titanic due to Maury Yeston’s highly emotive music and lyrics played by the band under the direction of Mark Aspinall
Danielle Taranto has produced a masterpiece of musical theatre and I can only hope and wait for the West End transfer that this undoubtedly deserves