My Heart Will Go (On) Laughing: A Review of Titanique on Broadway
Titanique is a newly-opened Broadway parody musical that reimagines the classic movie Titanic from the eyes of the French-Canadian singer Céline Dion. It’s a hilarious production that transforms the familiar love story of Jack and Rose into a fun celebration of queer culture.
The musical starts with a group of people in the Titanic museum when suddenly they are interrupted by a hidden figure covered in trash bags; suddenly, when she takes the trash bags off, she’s revealed to be Céline Dion, claiming that she was actually on the Titanic and remembers the story to be different from what we know.
In her story, the ship is grander, more gay, and much more campy. Jim Parsons, who played Sheldon in The Big Bang Theory, joined the production in March to play Rose’s mother, Ruth DeWitt Bukater.
The musical combines Céline Dion songs with countless pop culture references to Wicked, 1990s television and movies, childhood dance class experiences, and queer culture, all of which kept the show accessible and unpredictable.
Some jokes flew over my head, and yet I still found myself laughing throughout the performance. The humor often relies on double entendres that embrace the show’s intentionally ludicrous style. One of the show’s most memorable moments comes when Jack Dawson and Cal Hockley’s rivalry is reimagined as a competition between two drag queens battling for a spot on RuPaul’s Drag Race.
Mr. Andre, Director of Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging, has seen Titanique three times and considers it one of the funniest productions he has ever seen. He especially appreciated “how gay it was” and “the not too subtle references to queer pop culture.” He described the show as absurd and a really good time. According to him, it “cuts across all demographics” and is particularly enjoyable for fans of Céline Dion.
The show’s universality was felt when Sally P. ‘26 and I were waiting in line for the theater and saw a diverse audience entering the theater: teenagers, college students, middle-aged couples, and older theatergoers. Despite their different backgrounds and ages, throughout the show, everyone in the audience was equally amused, proving how Titanique appeals to a wide range of audiences.
Antonia A. ‘27 is a staff writer for The Grace Gazette