All Aboard Titanic: The Musical
- AnnabelleLYN
- Apr 16, 2019
- 5 min read
Updated: Apr 17, 2019
Location:
Hong Kong Academy of Performing Arts
Drama Theatre
Dates and Times:
14th June (Fri) 8pm
15th June (Sat) 3pm and 8pm
16th June (Sun) 3pm and 7:30pm
Price:
Standard Ticket: HKD$550
Concessionary (Senior/Student/Disabled): HKD$450
Click Here To Purchase Your Boarding Documents (Tickets)
Reasons To See Titanic The Musical In Hong Kong
1. I'm In It!!!
Jkjk That's not a good reason honestly
2. It is a remotely accurate interpretation of history
Unlike the movie rendition, the musical's characters were all real people. Though their are a few fictional relationships of real people in the story, and a few people's descriptions are altered a tad to fit the storyline, most of the characters in the musical were actual people with real souls. Tony Award winner Peter Stone wrote the book for Titanic The Musical, and did a phenomenal job as he was able to use every detail of the historical event and captured the audiences heart with such chilling and compelling conversations.
It is filled with facts of the Maiden Voyage, the stories of the officers and staff on the ships, the story behind the building of the grand ship, and what caused the unsinkable ship to well... sink (Oh come on, this is not a spoiler, Titanic SINKS and almost everyone DIED, it is almost common logic......anywho...) We also see the officers and the captain and how they communicate when their steering the ship, how they negotiate the speed of the ship, and how a certain wealthy tycoon influenced the crash of the ship.
3. It draws light into a tragic event
Despite such a tragedy, there is always a calm before the storm. In this case, happiness before someone gets harmed. Everyone who boarded the ship, including people who worked there were ecstatic to step foot on the Titanic, it was a symbol of wealth and fortune and sailing to a new world. It shows how the passengers enjoyed their stayed on the Titanic, and what they did on the ship.
Not only that (Spoiler alert), we will see Frederick Barrett, Stoker and Harold Bride, Wire Operator with the Marconi International Marine Signal Communications Company, Limited (Yes he says this quite a few times throughout the show, kudos to the actor, it's quite a mouthful). In this seen, Barrett asks Bride to send a message back on land for his lovely lady and asks to marry her when he returns. Which makes it more heartbreaking knowing the outcome of the show. Meanwhile, Bride reminisces on his life and his love for telegraphing. There are many story lines in the show, but you will have to watch the show to see more.
4. A remarkably talented cast
This show is unlike others, usually there would only be a handful of lead and speaking roles. However, Titanic the Musical has 38 speaking/lead roles, and 45 named roles. Now community theatre, it is common to have a lack male actors. In the junior production, their are gender bent roles. However, in the adult productions, a male actor would be double casted or even triple casted. In rehearsals I already see the actors running to their spots time to time, and to imagine how much stamina and concentration they have in dedication for the show is truly heartwarming.
Now let's not forget the female actors. Most of the ladies have speaking roles and younger and new faces are assigned to ensemble. But the ensemble is not to be looked down upon. There are a lot of quick changes going from one role to another in a short amount of time in order to make the story come to life.
In addition to that, the Titanic the Musical is a highly vocally demanding. With Sopranos hitting a high A, holding a note for what I believe over 16 bars, and a beautiful four part canon. It takes a profession team of actors to be that dedicated and talented to give such a spectacular performance.
5. Produced by an amazing theatre company
Face Productions has been producing local musical productions for quite some time now. With productions like Once On This Island Jr, Catch Me If You Can, Singing In The Rain, My Fair Lady, Mulan, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, Into The Woods, Legally Blonde, Footloose, Hairspray and many more. With the direction of long time director Candice Caalsen, musical arrangements and vocal training by Musical Director Andrew Swift, and a new addition to the team with her graceful and refreshing dance moves is choreographer Jordann De Santis. With the dynamic trio, they are able to bring the script and score to life.
Of course we couldn't forget the production team as well, with Donner Lee, Kenix Ho, Georgina Li and Kary Lo handling the logistics of the show, from costumes, sets, stagehands to ticket sales, they got it all covered.
And we obviously cannot forget about our technical musical composer Enrico Narvaez. Unfortunately due to various reasons, we are unable to have live accompaniment, but never fear, as Narvae is a whiz at the studio and is able to cue the show as a conductor would to an orchestra.
With the dream team, the show will not disappoint.
6. Extravagant Visuals
Titanic was known to be the "ship of dreams", and the Broadway production was notorious for having the most expensive budget in their season, mostly contributed to their stage design. And it shouldn't be any different in this production. By transforming the stage into a ship dock, the boiler room, the well deck, the first class dining saloon, the third class area, the bridge, all of the classes hallway and off course, the illusion of a sinking ship. It would take a lot of backdrops, props, scenic designs and creativity to lift the show off its feet.
As for costume, we have yet to do a fitting so I can't give much information.
7. A Beautiful Score and heartwarming yet tear-jerking orchestrations
Titanic the Musical is composed by Tony Award winning Maury Yeston, who also composed Nine (1982), Grand Hotel (1989) and Royal Family (2009). And orchestrated by also Tony Award winning Jonathan Tunick, who also orchestrated Carousel (2018), Follies (1971), Company (1971), A Chorus Line (1975), Sweeney Todd (1979) and much more. Both winners got their Tony with Titanic.
This musical has a operatic style of orchestration and vocals. Weaving melodies of different songs and merging lyrics togther with multiple number. It's basically organized chaos. Displaying the chaotic scene where everyone is fighting to get on a lifeboat. And the cheerful fantasia with the 1st Class.
Yeston was able to intertwine dialogue within the melody, giving the conversation more life and put sensibility in a musical number.
The sinking of RMS Titanic is a bittersweet tragedy that has touched the heart of people worldwide. And it is our job to remember and pay a tribute to those who were involved. Including the survivors, the ones who didn't make and all of their friends and families. It is our job to send the message that we should cherish what we have and live in the moment, because sometimes, there might not be tomorrow.
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