You wouldn't think that a poignant re-telling of the Titanic's sinking could be made uproariously funny -- but in the hands of the talented Colin Hamell, laughs abound in the New Rep black box theatre. A collaboration between New Rep and Tir Na Theatre Companies, "Jimmy Titanic" (written by Bernard McMullen) is sweet, a little sad, and ever so funny.
Hamell, who does some excellent accent work in what must be an exhausting performance for him, portrays something like 30 different characters, each with its own voice, story, and funny physical quirks. The transformations from one to the next are stellar and subtle; you rarely see Hamell make any sudden movements, but he suddenly becomes someone entirely different. The funniest moments occur in Heaven; we particularly loved the interactions between the Angel Gabriel, St. Peter, and God. (God's cigar-sucking was perhaps the best sound effect of the show!)
In addition to transforming himself, Hamell transforms a completely empty stage into multiple locations with aplomb. At the height of the show's narrative, as the Titanic is sinking and the last of the lifeboats is launched, we were so caught up in the story that we truly forgot where we were for a moment. Such transporting of an audience takes excellent acting and direction, both (kudos to the show's director, Carmel O'Reilly).
~ Shauna Shames, New Rep Reviewer (with Johanna Ettin)
