Review: 'Titatnic' at Fairview Library Theatre

By: Mark Andrew Lawrence Apr. 08, 2010

I am always suspicious of shows that require elaborate scenery to make their point. If the writing is strong enough, the scenic design should be no more than the icing on the cake. When I saw the musical Titanic on Broadway in the spring of 1997 it seemed that the massive set often dwarfed the performers.

By focusing on the story and characters, Curtain Call Players have solved some of the show’s inherent problems while offering us a chance to savor Maury Yeston’s near-operatic score.

The 50-member cast gives full measure to the multifaceted songs. The first half of the opening night performance was occasionally marred by sound imbalances with the pre-recorded orchestra track but The Situation seemed to get corrected by the second act.

Yes, for this production Curtain Call has elected to use a pre-recorded orchestra. While normally it is best to keep live theatre live, no 10-piece community theatre orchestra could come close to that symphonic sound. This way music director Keith Bohlender is able to focus on the vocal aspects and the big choral sections are indeed thrilling.

Many of the individual solo performances are quite good as well including Chris Daniel as stoker Frederick Barrett, Glen Burgess as radio operator Harold Bride and Chris Johnson as 3^rd class passenger Jim Farrell. Farrell is matched up with Kate McGowan played here by Megan Flynn who brings a lovely wistful quality to her solo parts in the song “Lady’s Maid.” Heather Barnes injects a bit of fun into the show as the social climbing Alice Beane.

Director Keith O’Connell has worked with the performers to create some very fine performances and generally keeps the lengthy first act moving at a steady pace. Where it runs into some rough waters are the transitions between the scenes. They frequently interrupt the flow because they take too long to execute. Broadway directors have learned that some focused performances will keep the viewer’s attention even as sets are being moved behind them. I’d suggest trying this with future productions, as it may help avoid these pauses.

The best moments involved the Captain, played in a commanding performance by Barry Flynn. O’Connell creates some genuine tension between the Captain and ship owner J.Bruce Ismay, played with a fair degree of pomposity by David Bogart. This pays off in spades in the second as each tries to blame the other for their predicament.

Titanic is an enormously complex musical, difficult to pull off in a small theatre with a limited budget. Curtain Call Players have managed rather admirably to make the show work very effectively on the stage at Fairview Library Theatre.

Titanic plays at Fairview Library Theatre, 35 Fairview Mall Drive, Thursday April 8 through Saturday April 10 at 8 PM each evening. For tickets go to www.curtaincallplayers.com or call (416) 703-6181.

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