Titanic

‘Ship of Dreams’ surfaces again

PWJW_Indy Reviews, Stage , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

By John Lyle Belden

December of 1997 saw the release of a film that at the time of its premiere was heralded as possibly the most expensive, overwrought flop ever to come out of Hollywood. But to everyone’s shock, it somehow failed to fail, breaking box office records, taking in billions of dollars, and winning numerous awards.

This sure-fire bomb didn’t sink despite its numerous production issues and cost-overruns, bladder-testing length, whining earworm of a featured song, exploitation of over a thousand deaths to deliver an improbable romantic plot, and even the presence of Billy Zane. It is suspected the movie was buoyed by past and eventual Oscar winners Leonardo DiCaprio, Kate Winslet, and the incomparable Kathy Bates, but I believe a lack of talking dolphins is to blame.

Fortunately, local hero Paige Scott and her Working Class Socialite company have risen from the depths of the Indianapolis comedy/improv scene to finally present James Carmeron’s “Titanic” as the absurd farce it was meant to be. Revised and expanded from its 2023 IndyFringe Festival premiere, “Ship of Dreams” sails (and sinks) again!

Courtney McClure and Elysia Rohn portray old and young Rose, Hannah Boswell is Jack, Shelby Myers is Ismay, Meg McLane is Billy, Tracy Herring is Kathy, Ariel Laukins is the First Mate, and Brittany Magee is Rose’s Mom, the Iceberg, and in an Award-Worthy Performance, the ship’s Propeller. Jason Adams gives us The Captain and all the visual effects you will ever need (where’s his Oscar?).

You’ll laugh; you’ll cr-, I mean laugh some more; you’ll not give a cuss about the room-on-the-door meme because there is just too much other weird and silly stuff going on to care. Still, in its near-faithful (though mercifully 90 minute) ultra-low-budget recreation of the major beats of the film (plus swipes at Leo’s other roles and such) Scott and friends slip in a bit of a tribute to what made this wreck of a movie such a magical event a little over 25 years ago.

Warm up the Model T (clean the backseat first) and head over to the IndyFringe Indy Eleven Theatre at 719 E. St. Clair St., Indianapolis for performances Thursday through Sunday, April 18-21. Get tickets at indyfringe.org.

IndyFringe: Ship of Dreams

PWJW_Indy IndyFringe, Reviews, Stage , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

This is part of IndyFringe 2022, Aug. 18-Sept. 4 (individual performance times vary) in downtown Indianapolis. Details and tickets at IndyFringe.org.

By Wendy Carson

First of all, I must warn you that this show is one of the hottest selling tickets at this year’s IndyFringe and every performance has and will sell out. Get your tickets immediately, or regret missing the greatest parody of an Oscar-winning tragic film in existence.

Even before the show begins, our captain, Jason Adams, is inviting the crowd to draw some artworks for the overhead projector used during the show

All of the movie’s major plot elements are covered here, including only referring to one character by the name of the actor portraying him. The show features extremely pun-filled dialogue, visuals on the projector, and simple cardboard props used so well they raise the level of each scene where they appear.

The spectacle reaches epic proportions encompassing karaoke, kazoo ballet, a singing iceberg, and the spectacular dance number showing the dramatic ending to the ship.

Paige Scott and her amazingly talented Party Island troupe of performers (Elysia Rohn, Courtney McClure Murray, Aaron Stillerman, Taylor Daine, Chad Woodward, and Brittany Magee) are each spectacular in all their numerous roles. Adams’ work on the overhead projector is just icing on this deliciously witty cake.

The 7:15 p.m. Friday performance is sold out, so act quickly to get on board 1:45 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 4, on the Indy Eleven stage at the IndyFringe Theatre.