Titanic The Musical

Bill Munro is a legend of Townsville theatre. As a director he has been responsible for some of the biggest hits the city has seen over the past 40 years. He chose Titanic The Musical to be his swansong before he retires overseas in the near future and it is a fitting tribute that such a dazzling production fulfils that role.

The show has a large cast, a sizeable orchestra, an imposing set and costuming that almost defies description. Thousands of birds must have sacrificed themselves to make the hats. The opulent furs and magnificent coats were astonishingly beautiful and there was not one costume that looked as if it did not belong to the period.

This is an ensemble production and it is difficult to single out any particular actors for their individual performances, however Kelly Stone as the Stoker, Brett Greenland as the Captain, Alex Papageorgiou as the Steward, Alyssa Oliveri as a social-climbing second-class passenger and Jill Cason as a poor Irish emigrant do deserve plaudits.

The orchestra, under the baton of Ryan Cristoffersen is, as we have now come to expect, first class. The set, designed by Antony Roth was spectacular.

Many of the audience made full use of the tissues that were supplied with their program during the moving finale. All-in-all, a most suitable production to farewell a favourite adopted son of Townsville.

Ray Dickson

Images: Northern Exposure Photography.