Nottingham Theatre Royal – until Saturday 20 May 2023
5*****
The beautiful auditorium of Nottingham Theatre Royal gave a wonderfully intimate feel to this beautiful musical.
Maury Yeston has produced magic to turn this tragedy into a thing of beauty. Assisted by Peter Stone’s strongly structured book, Yeston creates a vivid picture of shipboard life, with each class divided, each character deftly delineated, and tensions beginning to emerge between the managing director of the White Star Line, J Bruce Ismay (Martin Allanson), Titanic’s designer Thomas Anderson (Ian McLarnon) and Captain Smith (Graham Bickley), who all have different aspirations for the vessel and for who must take the responsibility for it all as they sing “The Blame”.
David Woodhead’s brilliantly designed set, helps director Thom Southerland move things along with great skill and flair. The scene leading up to the disaster, in the song “No Moon”, when the high tenor of the lookout rises above the babble of excited voices below, is atmospheric and eerily beautiful.
The cast of 25 take on many parts. Breaking hearts we have Billy Roberts as Mr Murdoch, who feels he is to blame. David Delve and Valda Aviks as Isador and Ida Straus who refuse to be parted at the end and Joseph Peacock as the 14 year old Cabin Boy Edward. Bree Smith as Alice Beane brings vibrant charm to a woman determined to rise above her station in life and have a good time and you root for a happy ending for Kate Mullins (Niamh Lang) and Jim Farrell (Chris Nevin) who want to rise above their station in America, a couple of the few who managed to escape from third class.
Danielle Tarento has produced something poignant and beautiful. Godspeed Titanic