titanic

Feb 2 to Feb 18, 2006

CAST

Thomas Andrews, architect
Captain E.J. Smith
J. Bruce Ismay, chairman

THE CREW
Frederick Barrett, stoker
Harold Bride, radio operator
Frederick Fleet, lookout
1st Office William Murdoch
2nd Officer Charles Lightoller
Henry Etches, chief steward
Quarter Master Robert Hitchens
Bellboy
Wallace Hartley, bandleader

THIRD CLASS PASSENGERS
Kate McGowan
Kate Murphy
Kate Mullins
Jim Farrell

SECOND CLASS PASSENGERS
Charles Clarke
Caroline Neville
Edgar Beane
Alice Beane

FIRST CLASS PASSENGERS
J.J. Astor
Madeleine Astor
Isidor Straus
Ida Straus
Benjamin Guggenheim
Mme. Aubert
George Widener
Eleanor Widener
John B. Thayer
Marion Thayer
Jack Thayer, jr.
Charlotte Cardoza
J.H. Rogers
The Major
Edith Corse Evans

ON LAND
Frank Carlson

Pictured:
(left to right)
Larry Westlake, Julie Lennick,
and Bob Deutsch

Titanic - The musical
February 8, 2006
Theatre review by Mark Andrew Lawrence

Because of its huge cast and complex physical production, many community theatre groups have avoided
Titanic – The Musical like a mid-sea iceberg. Not Joe Cascone. A long-time Titanic aficionado, as well as a
highly experienced director of musical theatre, he decided that somehow he would bring this musical to his
audiences at Fairview Library theatre. Last Thursday night that dream was fulfilled with a triumphant
opening.

While very much an ensemble piece, several star performers emerge. Two in particular deserve special
attention as they are making their debuts with the company and hopefully they will return in future
productions.

As Frederick Barrett, Cory Doran gives a movingly detailed performance and makes an immediate
impression with the “Stoker’s Song” early in Act One. Later, he shares a duet with the production’s other
newcomer, Scotty Newlands. Playing radio operator Harold Bride, Newlands is not only a terrific singer he
is also a fine actor making the most of his tense scene in Act Two as he frantically tries to make contact
with the one ship that might have been able to save many of the passengers.

Joe Cascone tops all previous directorial efforts with his hallmark fluidity and many scenes play better here
than they did in the Broadway production. He also conducts the on-stage 18-piece orchestra, generally
keeping it in balance with the singers though there are brief moments where Jonathan Tunick’s
orchestrations are too thick for the un-amplified singers to be heard.
Maury Yeston’s score is a marvel of modern theatre composition. The music is grandiose in nature, befitting
a musical of such epic proportions. The un-fussy lyrics effectively convey plot and character. Highlights
include the hymn-like “Godspeed Titanic”; “Lady’s Maid” for third class passengers; and the lively ensemble
“Doing the latest rag” which gives the show its one true dance number, nicely choreographed by Larry
Westlake.

Westlake also gives a great performance as the long-suffering middle-class husband Edgar Beane. Other
standouts include Peter Loucas as the architect Thomas Andrews, Bob Deutsch as the determined Captain E.
J. Smith, and Julie Lennick as the social climbing Alice Beane. David Haines is also worth a mention for his
villainous portrayal of the ship’s obsessive owner Bruce Ismay, which, while a little fictitious in
dramatization, really gives the audiences someone to hate and blame in the whole catastrophe.

The entire ensemble deserves praise for performing the complex book and score with such assurance. In the
end, however, it is thanks to Joe Cascone’s vision that Toronto finally has a chance to see this Tony award
winning musical.