A convincing demise | Nachrichten.at

Michael Lakner, artistic director of the Baden Stage, got the inspiration during a visit to the Linz Music Theater in February 2022. Just two years later, the versatile multi-discipline theater itself presented the musical ” Titanic” (book Peter Stone, music Maury Yeston) onto the stage. A direct comparison with the much acclaimed production in Linz would be unfair simply because of the technical possibilities. What remains the bottom line of the very appealing premiere on Saturday evening is the fact that all the emotions that arise around the story of gigantism, lack of humility, social abysses and ultimately the sinking of the “unsinkable” ship with more than 1,500 deaths can be generated using simple means.

The musical implementation is particularly successful. No technical compromises need to be made here, you can draw on the full here and Victor Petrov manages to provide the Baden stage orchestra with a coherent guide to the well-known storyline at all times over the approximately three-hour production. The same applies to the stage’s powerful choir, which gives splendor, opulence and goosebumps, especially to the crowd scenes with around 50 actors on stage.

Leonard Prinsloo stages and choreographs this successful but rarely performed musical stringently, largely free of pathos and avoiding all sorts of frills. Here and there one or two references to the external circumstances – bitter cold, fear of death and the resulting surreal actions – would have been useful.

Set designer Carlos Santos mastered the conditions of the stage without rotating or lowering elements, using conventional means. A lot of things could easily be explained from the plot. The increasing list of the sinking ship was only hinted at once – with a serving trolley crossing the stage as if drawn by magic. One or two more ideas on this would have been nice to see.

Natascha Maraval overcomes the costume hurdle for the more than 50 actors seemingly effortlessly. The equipment contributes greatly to a comprehensible understanding of the events. The life jackets were borrowed from the Linz State Theater’s costume collection.

The ensemble of actors is very pleasing. Martin Berger is a strong vocal and acting Thomas Andrews (designer and builder of the Titanic). His rousing plea, his acknowledgment of the main blame for the downfall, gets under your skin. Reinwald Kranner plays an egocentric Bruce Ismay, the boss of the White Star Line, which built the ship that sank in the Atlantic on April 15, 1912. Sebastian Brummer is versatile in each of his three roles (radio operator, John Thayer and bandleader). The same applies – especially vocally – to Leon De Graaf (including “Ausguck”). Luzia Nistler and Darius Merstein-MacLeod, who is endowed with wit and charm, act extremely well as Ida and Isidor Straus. Incidentally, Nistler also sang this role in Linz. Missy May is especially playfully adorable as Kate McGowan and Charlotte Drake Cardoza.

Conclusion: Great musicals are that easy.

Information and further dates: www.buehnebaden.at

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