Titanique brings Céline Dion's energy to Espace St-Denis
The French adaptation of the off-Broadway parody musical opens Thursday with Véronique Claveau channeling the diva through iconic songs and irreverent Quebec references.
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Titanique, the cheeky off-Broadway parody musical, has arrived at Espace St-Denis in its first French-language adaptation—and it's playing Montreal like a home crowd.
"Tellement contente d'être à maison! J'suis chez nouuuuus!" Véronique Claveau announced Thursday night as a sizzling Céline Dion, setting the tone for this grivoise retelling of the famous Cameron film. Born nearly a decade ago off-Broadway from the imaginations of Marla Mindelle, Constantine Rousouli, and Tye Blue, Titanique takes Rose and Jack's tragic romance and filters it through Dion's discography and larger-than-life persona—as if the diva had narrated the whole sinking.
The production, adapted by Laurie Léveillée and presented by Juste pour rire, mines Quebec culture ruthlessly: references to Marie-Mai, Caroline Néron, Survivor Québec, Les filles de Caleb, René Angélil, a cardboard Julie Snyder, and an excellent allusion to the Banquier set. Claveau has performed this role over a hundred times in English across a distinct Canadian production, including a notable run at the Centre Segal in Montreal. Here, the French dialogue opens up new comedic space—though the songs, naturally, stay in English, creating a slight register shift that diminishes as the show settles in.
The Quebec adaptation cranks up the vulgarity with "criss" and "ostie," sometimes gratuitously. But what truly anchors the production is Claveau's flawless interpretation. She moves effortlessly between narration, improvisation, and multiple vocal impersonations—Sonia Benezra, Édith Piaf, even a violin. Her voice is disturbingly precise. Audrey-Louise Beauséjour, who plays Rose, brings rare vocal power; she's a Star Académie alumna releasing her debut album this fall. Guillaume Borys rounds out the ensemble as Jack with comparable polish.
With four live musicians on stage, the production leans on the performers' craftsmanship rather than spectacle—and it pays off. Titanique thrives on character and song, making the irreverence land harder and the parody sing truer.