Titanic
the Musical
Synopsis
Act
1
Titanic's
designer, Thomas Andrews marvels at the wondrous things mankind has accomplished
("In Every Age"); the RMS Titanic tops his list of things once thought
impossible. Stoker Fred Barrett arrives at the dock in Southampton, amazed by
the feat of engineering that lays before him ("How Did They Build
Titanic?"). He is joined by Lookout Frederick Fleet and wireless telegraph
operator Harold Bride, and they gaze in awe at the "Ship of Dreams"
("There She Is") as the crew arrives. J. Bruce Ismay, Andrews, and
Captain E. J. Smith congratulate each other on being the owner, designer, and
captain of "The Largest Moving Object" in the world. The ship's
passengers arrive—the Third and Second Class passengers feel privileged to be
aboard the maiden voyage of the grandest ship ever to sail ("I Must Get on
that Ship"). The First Class passengers arrive; their names and
achievements are narrated by Second Class passenger Alice Beane ("First
Class Roster"). Titanic sets sail, and the assembled company wishes her a
safe crossing ("Godspeed Titanic").
Now
at sea, Ismay arrives on the bridge to inform Smith that he plans for Titanic to
arrive in New York on Tuesday afternoon rather than Wednesday morning, while
Andrews insists that the maiden voyage be a safe one. As they've cleared land,
Smith allows her speed to be increased slightly. Barrett, in the boiler room,
disagrees with the order on such a new ship, but nonetheless complies
("Barrett's Song").
In
Second Class, Alice Beane longs for the grandeur that is First Class, while her
husband Edgar, a successful hardware store owner, is content with their station.
Charles Clarke, who is traveling to America to become a journalist, travels with
his fiancee Caroline Neville. Caroline's father doesn't approve of the
engagement, so they are eloping to America. In First Class, the titans of
industry recount the accomplishments that man has recently achieved, Titanic, of
course, being the grandest ("What a Remarkable Age this Is!"). In
steerage, three Irish lasses—each named Kate—dream with the rest of Third
Class of the opportunities that await in America ("Lady's Maid"). Kate
McGowan is smitten with a young man traveling with them, Jim Farrell.
As
the voyage continues, Ismay demands increasingly more speed, so Titanic can
build up a good reputation. Capt. Smith complies despite Andrews' objections and
warnings of icebergs in their course. Smith hails 1st Officer Murdoch's
qualities, deeming him ready to assume a command of his own, but Murdoch feels
he is not yet ready to handle the responsibilities of the job ("To Be a
Captain").
In
the wireless room, Bride is overwhelmed by the passenger's personal messages to
be sent, though he finds time to handle Barrett's proposal to his girlfriend
("The Proposal/The Night Was Alive").
On
Sunday morning, the First Class attends religious services ("God Lift Me
Up"), then dances on deck to "The Latest Rag". Alice Beane has
managed to infiltrate their ranks, though she is shooed away several times by an
alert steward. Edgar finds her and the two argue over their lifestyle choices
("I Have Danced"). As evening draws near, the temperature drops, and
lookout Fleet finds the weather conditions difficult for spotting icebergs
("No Moon"). On deck, Kate McGowan tells Farrell that she needs to
marry as she is carrying the child of a married man, and he accepts. Elderly
passengers Isidor and Ida Straus discuss their plans for the years to come while
Charlotte Drake Cardoza scandalizes the First Class men by joining them for
cards in the First Class Smoke Room ("Autumn").
Suddenly,
Fleet spots an iceberg and alerts the bridge. Murdoch takes evasive action, but
Titanic strikes the berg.
Act
2
The
stewards begin waking the confused passengers, while they themselves do not have
much information ("Wake Up, Wake Up"). Capt. Smith arrives on the
bridge and is briefed on the situation. He orders all passengers to put on life
vests, for Bride to begin sending distress messages, and for Andrews to inspect
the damage. Andrews informs Smith and Ismay that the damage inflicted is more
than the ship is designed to endure and that the ship will sink, reminding them
that there are only enough lifeboats for less than half of the people aboard.
In
the First Class Dining Salon, passengers refuse to believe that anything is
wrong with the ship and are annoyed at being awakened in the middle of the night
("Dressed in Your Pyjamas in the Grand Salon"). Crew members are
assuring them that there is no reason to panic. No one is aware of the ship's
growing peril until a food cart rolls on its own, showing the ship's growing
list. All the passengers and crew members quickly hurry to the lifeboats.
In
Third Class, the three Kates and Farrell attempt to find a way up to boat deck,
but are unable to until assisted by Barrett ("The Staircase"). Capt.
Smith arrives in the radio room where Bride informs him that only the Carpathia
is near enough to help, but is unable to arrive until after the Titanic has
sunk. Smith, Andrews, and Ismay argue over responsibility for the disaster
("The Blame").
Women
and children are ordered into the lifeboats, while the men are forced to stay
behind ("To the Lifeboats"). Murdoch orders Fleet and Barrett into the
last lifeboat to help man the oars, but Barrett doesn't know how to row a boat
and lets Farrell, who can row, into the boat instead. Barrett bids farewell to
his absent girlfriend while the rest of the passengers do the same to their
loved ones ("We'll Meet Tomorrow").
As
the last of the lifeboats depart, those remaining accept their fate. Isidor and
Ida Straus, the latter of whom had refused leave her husband behind, affirm
their long-lasting love for one another ("Still"). Andrews, in the
First Class Smoke Room, obsesses over Titanic's plans, redesigning her and
visualizing the final moments of the souls left aboard as the ship sinks beneath
the waves("Mr. Andrews' Vision").
In
the wee hours of the morning, the survivors are rescued by the Carpathia. Many
of them recount the tragedy of Titanic, mourning the loss of man and ship. Bride
and Ismay, along with several of the survivors, discuss the possibilities that
could have prevented the disaster ("The Foundering"). The survivors
express hope that they will one day be reunited with their lost loved ones and
abandoned dreams ("In Every Age/Finale").
Musical
numbers
Act
I
·
"Overture"
- Orchestra
·
"In
Every Age" - Andrews
·
"How
Did They Build Titanic?" - Barrett
·
"Fare-thee-well"
- Barrett, Bride & Fleet
·
"There
She Is" - Barrett, Bride, Fleet, Hartley, Sailor, Stoker & Stevedore
·
"I
Must Get On That Ship" - Ensemble
·
"The
First Class Roster" - Pitman and Alice
·
"Godspeed
Titanic" - Pitman & Full company
·
"Barrett's
Song" - Barrett
·
"What
A Remarkable Age This Is" - Etches, 1st-Class & Serving Staff
·
"To
Be A Captain" - Murdoch
·
"Lady's
Maid" - The Three Kates & Ensemble
·
"The
Proposal / The Night Was Alive" - Barrett & Bride
·
"God
Lift Me Up (Hymn)" - 1st-Class passengers
·
"Doing
The Latest Rag" - Hartley, Bricoux, Taylor & Ensemble
·
"I
Have Danced" - Alice & Edgar
·
"No
Moon" - Ensemble
·
"Autumn"
- Hartley
·
"Finale
Act One" - Orchestra
Act
II
·
"Entr'acte"
- Orchestra
·
"Wake
Up, Wake Up!" - Etches, Stewards, 1st-, 2nd-, & 3rd-class passengers
·
"Dressed
In Your Pyjamas In the Grand Salon" - Ensemble
·
"The
Staircase" - The Three Kates & Farrell with Barrett
·
"The
Blame" - Ismay, Andrews & Captain
·
"To
the Lifeboats" - Ensemble
·
"We'll
Meet Tomorrow" - Barrett, Bride, Charles & Company
·
"To
Be A Captain (Reprise)" - Etches
·
"Still"
- Ida & Isidor
·
"Mr.
Andrews' Vision" - Andrews
·
"The
Foundering" - Bride & Survivors
·
"Finale
- In Every Age/ Godspeed, Titanic (Reprise)" - Company
