Titanique Brings a Boatload of Energy to the Stage

Apr 30, 2026 by Two Sues On the Aisle

By Two Sues on the Aisle, Susie Rosenbluth and Sue Weston

Titanique is a musical parody that reimagines the 1997 Titanic film, as told by Céline Dion, who twists the plot and adds spark. It is a fast-paced comedic romp, with an exuberant, unexpected finale. The show was co-written by three friends, who are intimately involved in the performance. Marla Mindelle plays Céline (winning a Lucille Lortel Award for her performance), the narrator. Constantine Rousouli plays the role of Jack Dawson, and Tye Blue is the show’s Director.

Photo Credit Evan Zimmerman for MurphyMade

Expect the Unexpected

As the show was about to start, inconsiderate latecomers annoyingly walked up the aisle. We soon discovered they were the actors, tourists at the Titanic Museum. This group is soon interrupted by a bag lady, from the audience, who reveals herself to be Céline Dion. She proceeds to recount the true story of Jack and Rose (two characters created by James Cameron for the 1997 movie).

Rose DeWitt Bukater, a first-class socialite, is being forced to marry wealthy Cal Hockley (John Riddle) to save her family from financial ruin. Jack, a poor artist who won his third-class ticket in a poker game, is immediately attracted to Rose. Their love affair is romantic, and at the same time, a social rebellion. Jack is everything her fiancée is not: a free spirit who sees and appreciates her, full of energy, creativity, and passion.

Titanique’s campy in-your-face style is deliberately ridiculous, turning a maritime disaster into a joyous celebration. Each and every performer was amazing, creating over-the-top characters, soaring to higher heights of hilarity than we anticipated. Jim Parsons plays Rose’s overbearing mother in a Victorian-style raspberry dress and an aviary headpiece, frequently throwing temper tantrums. It is ridiculous, but it works. Rose DeWitt (Melissa Barrera, making her Broadway debut), The Unsinkable Molly Brown (Deborah Cox, a powerhouse with a beautiful voice), and the Iceberg (Layton Williams), who brought down the house.

Photo Credit Evan Zimmerman for MurphyMade

The performance is a mash-up of one-liners and well-executed musical numbers, but all with a heavy comedic twist. For example, the voices of Barrera, Cox, and Mindelle harmonize in their rendition of Tell Him, whose meaning is subtly changed with the addition of an eggplant. This kooky irrelevance aligns with the tone of the show. This largely gay cast is playing to a like-minded audience (at least for the performance we attended). The gaiety does not diminish the brilliance of this production, filled with spectacular acting and dancing. We missed some of the nuanced references, but the audience roared with laughter.

The Road to Broadway – In 2017, the writers conceived of a show that would combine Celine Dion’s music with the melodrama of the 1997 film Titanic. Asking themselves, ‘What if Celine Dion didn’t just sing the theme, but also survived the disaster?’ They began with a smaller concert-style show in Los Angeles, then moved to New York, first at The Asylum Theatre, next Daryl Roth Theatre, and now on Broadway at the St. James Theatre for a limited run.

Filled with Jokes

Titanique is filled with silliness, including an intermission that lasts only two seconds, a piece of handheld Plexiglas held between Little Tykes cars for Jack and Rose’s steamy tryst, the priceless necklace looking like an oversized piñata, and Céline inserts herself into scenes at the most inopportune times. The show is known to contain improv scenes from Marla Mindelle, which may be as much of a surprise to the cast members as to the audience, forcing them to hold back their laughter. In the performance we attended, there was a scene about the Lost Boys, which was opening that evening, which was brilliant, unexpected, and timely.

Photo Credit Evan Zimmerman for MurphyMade

There is also childish humor, like when Parsons launches into a rant, ripping sheet music, because the band should have it memorized, and making a Big Bang (a fart). As well as the running joke for their need to speed is because Cal has a “hair appointment in Soho. They book WAY out.” When Unsinkable Molly Brown questions the dangers presented by the increased speed, the orchestra adds a few notes of ominous music and an occasional comment on the lack of lifeboats. This tongue-in-cheek dialogue feels like a wink to the audience, foreshadowing impending doom until the comedy delivers a shocking, high-energy finale.

Titanique is chock-full of the 1990s, trivia, accompanied by the music of Celine Dion. The show purposely mixes 1912 with 1997 and 2026, in a fast-paced, musical comedy, performed by an amazingly talented cast. Titanique is not for those who expect to revisit the 1997 movie Titanic, or those offended by off-color humor. It is a performance for adults who enjoy laughing at an unfiltered entertainment experience.

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Titanique is at the St. James Theatre, located at 246 West 44th Street, through July 12

Running time – 100 minutes without intermission