StageArt’s ‘Titanic’ sets sail

This week’s column comes with a double shot of coffee, from both Matilda and Joel. The two of us are currently in the middle of our voyage together aboard the RMS Titanic in StageArt’s 2016 Performance Season. With only two weeks left, we still haven’t made it to America. But on the way, we have been fortunate enough to travel with an immensely talented cast, a dedicated crew and inspired creative team.

Some of the many highlights include:

-Matilda excitedly running on for her first entrance, and knocking the bell off its perch and it clanging to the floor during ‘How Did They Build Titanic?’
-Joel being given a note to dance with Rose at the start of a particular scene, and no one remembering to tell Sam, her usual dance partner
-A range of varied mic check themes, ranging from ‘Roles you would never be cast in’ to ‘The first album you ever bought’
-The audience feedback at how impressive our set is for managing to hydraulically steepen during interval for Act 2. It doesn’t. #acting
-While Adam’s solo in ‘The Latest Rag’ usually consists of “… Isn’t it a lovely day”, a sudden mind blank one night caused him to instead sing, “Welcome to your darkest days” #foreshadowing
-The sniffles and the silences this story has been able to evoke in the audiences during the dramatic moments

While there isn’t much time offstage during the show, we managed to ask each of the cast in their downtime:

“If you were on a sinking ship and could only take one thing with you, what would it be?”

David Irvine – Barrett
Inflatable pool toy

Sam Bennett – Farrell
A pool noodle/ the rest of Barrett’s whiskey

Molly Fisher – Kate Murphy
A jet ski

Don Winsor – Andrews
“Seven thousand heads of fresh lettuce”

Tim Lancaster – Lightoller
Just, so much chocolate

James Brown – Murdoch
A large wooden door, sizeable enough for one person and one person only, to float on

Christopher Southall – Etches
Murdoch’s gun

Matthew Hyde – Charles
“An overturned collapsible life boat”

Adam Di Martino – Bellboy
My bell

Barry Mitchell – Isidor
My own portable island

Paul Batey – Captain
A can of ‘Shark Off’

Rosabelle Elliott – Kate McGowan
The guy from ‘Man vs. Wild’

Jonathan Sebastian – Ismay
A heater

Harley Morrison – Edgar
Anything but Alice

Casey Withoos – Alice
Duct tape. Patch that hole right up

Greta Sherriff – Caroline
My dignity

Amanda Stevenson – Ida
A soccer ball with hair (Wilson)

Alex Thompson – Fleet
Some goggles. I hate salt water.

As you can see, if you ask a dumb question, you will get a dumb answer.

Although you could call this piece a tragedy of sorts, the rehearsal and performance season has been smooth sailing. To have the chance to be able to tell the stories of these real people in such an inspired, conceptual way has been a real honour. Running until the 24^th July, don’t miss the boat.

Book tickets now at http://bit.ly/BookTitanic

[Photos: Belinda Strodder]