BWW Reviews: TITANIC, Southwark Playhouse, July 31 2013

"With Titanic, we want to create a legend," proclaims J. Bruce Ismay, Chairman of the White Star Line.

Ismay (a Titanic survivor and as a consequence social outcast) did just that by pushing the boat to the limits of her speed on the maiden voyage and thereby causing one of the deadliest peacetime maritime disasters in modern history.

Everyone knows the tragic story of the RMS Titanic, at its time the largest floating object in the world, the challenge is how to translate this to the stage.

Directed by Thom Southerland, whose recent successes at the Southwark Playhouse include Victor/ Victoria and Mack and Mabel, Titanic soars in its simplicity with a split-level stage, minimal use of props and an extremely talented cast.

Taking the time to introduce our 1st, 2nd and 3rd class citizens, Titanic makes us cleverly care about the doomed by giving us insightful glimpses of their back stories or lives at home in Ireland, England, Europe or America. These people are all on personal journeys; for leisure, immigration or working on-board the 'unsinkable' liner.

Constant use of dramatic irony, including the exasperation of a man whose ship literally just sailed without him also reminds us about what will inevitably happen.

Simon Green plays Ismay with the right amount of arrogance and showmanship as befits a CEO of a company keen to impress in a 'new world' of Industrial Revolution.

His on-board nemesis Captain Smith is wonderfully played by Philip Rham, a man accepting of his fate and the part he played in it.

Other mentions of note go to James Austen-Murray (Barrett), a romantic stoker, and Dudley Rogers (Isidor Straus) and Judith Street (Ida Straus) as an old married rich couple who won't be parted.

The entire cast, however, do wonders with Maury Yeston's beautiful songs; whether they are poignant love duets or entire company stormers ('To the Lifeboats' and 'No Moon' and its reprise are particularly stunning).

As a show already bestowed with five Tonys, I feel like it's only a matter of time before a West End transfer. In its current incarnation, though, Titanic is a master of simple and honest good singing and storytelling.

Until 31st August

£22, £18 (conc.)

Photo by Annabel Vere

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