Titanique is coming back to the Segal Centre!

Happy holidays from the voice of Montreal. CJAD 800. In for Andrew Carter. Ken Connors. I will never forget the day I got on board of Titanic. There were so many people waiting to get on the ship that day. But Celine Dion, you just sang the theme song to the movie. You weren't actually on the Titanic. Or was I?

Sounds like fun. Titanic is sailing back sailing back to Montreal. In case you haven't heard the musical was a sold out smash a couple months ago at the Seagull Center. And it'll be back at the Seagull for another great run from February 2nd to the 16th. It's a retelling of the Titanic movie through the eyes of Celine Dion. A different take on the story of Jack and Rose. It's campy. It's silly. It's funny. The reviews have been great. The cast is terrific. Constant Bernard is in the cast playing Ruth Rose's mother and he's on the line for a phone chat.

Constant, good morning. Hey, good morning, Ken. Happy New Year. Happy New Year to you. How did you wind up in this production? Oh, my goodness. It just feels like the stars have aligned for me. Obviously, I auditioned for the role back almost like a year ago now back in March of 2024. And we went through two rounds of casting altogether for my role.

And yeah, it was just the right fit. As soon as I read the character description, I play Ruth, funnily enough, Rose's mother from the movie. If we remember, she's not a very kind lady. She's a little bit frustrated. And so I play her with high camp, obviously in drag.

And yeah, it was just the right fit and the right time in my career, I think, to play sort of that over-the-top character, which I'm no stranger to. How much fun are you having in this? Oh, my goodness. First of all, the cast is incredible. Incredible talent, vocally, and comedy-wise. And it's just every night we just get to go on stage and have a great laugh at the audience.

The amazing part, the amazing thing about playing this part is that there's a bit of improv in the middle. I have this huge monologue, and every night I just get to go off the rails just a little bit, just enough to keep the audience on their toes and take them along for the ride. You picked my interest with the Zimprov opportunity, so give me an example. Drop in maybe a very current event, or how does that work?

Yeah, exactly. We might have heard of a famous Zoom call that happened between the Prime Minister and former Deputy Prime Minister that happened last December. I mean, that in real time, I was commenting on that in the show.

It was a lot of fun, a lot of very surprised audience members. They love that. Of course, you read a headline in the morning and then at night time it's in the show. What's better than that? It's sort of like that little special moment that they get to live with us. They know that that show is specific to them.

They'll be able to say forever that, oh, I was at that show where that happened on that day, you know? Yeah. With constant Bernard, he plays Ruth, Rose's mother, and T. Tanik was just coming back to the Seagull Center in February. Get your tickets. Just go to the Seagull Center website. Remind us a little bit about the character of Ruth Duet-Bucator and the type of woman and mom she is. This lady does not belong in steerage, right? No, absolutely not. She would never be caught dead in steerage.

Although she is one of the survivors from the movie, if you remember, she definitely got on that lifeboat.

Yes, she's a very stern feminist who wants Rose to marry this rich fiancee cow For money obviously since they've lost everything when the husband died So she's very frustrated in her life, but also sexually and we really lean into it in this show and

And like I said, there's this great monologue in the middle of the play where she sort of goes on this tirade about life not being fair for women. And ironically enough, the role is played by a man, which I think Ruth would be very, very mad at.

Just to add her frustration. Exactly. Tell me a bit about the very talented vocalist, Rinko Beck, who's playing Ms. Kevel, she's playing Celine. From what I understand, because I haven't seen the show yet, I'm going to the run in February, but sometimes she just gives the audience a look and they crack up, right?

Yeah, absolutely. She's got Celine Dion's mannerisms down pat. I mean, she's been doing impersonations for many years now, and she grew up listening to Celine. So her voice herself as Veronique is very similar to Celine's voice. But it really is the small, tiny detail that she goes and she studied.

I think that those are the little Easter eggs that people can pick up on. Jasenik is one of the greatest performers that I've ever had the chance, the pleasure to share the stage with. She is very, very kind and just very funny.

in person, and the wonderful thing about Montreal audiences is that she gets to risk a little bit in French as well, which in Toronto obviously can't happen as much, but Montrealers for the most part will have a laugh and will understand her little risks and interest. Just wrapping up with Constant Bernard, he's part of the cast and the production of a Titinique, which is coming back to the sequel for another run in February. How much of a Stilinfen were you before this happened?

Oh, I was one of the dyers. That's why when I say that the stars really did align for me playing this role. I used to work on cruise ships, ironically enough. And I've seen something beyond multiple times in concert, mostly from the front row. So she's my diva. She's my idol. And I'm so glad I get to sing her songs every night. How jazzery when she turned up at the Olympics wasn't an amazing and that big comeback in front of that crowd in that room.

Oh my goodness, I feel like everyone, we all were able to take like a collective breath of relief, you know, a sigh of relief. It was nice to see her in full form. And I just love all those video clips that we see of her sort of like

maybe teasing a comeback, and I'm glad that her sense of humor never left her, because I think that's why people love her. She's so genuine and so relatable, and even through everything she's gone through, her sense of humor is still there, and I think she would appreciate the show, to be honest, even though we make light a little bit of her cookiness.

You know what, I think she embraces her cookiness as well. It's part of her brand, right? Absolutely. Absolutely. Constant. The word of mouth has been fantastic, especially with the first run. And everyone seems to be loving it and recommending it. So I can't wait to see you on stage and have a great time in Toronto. Can't wait to see you back here in Montreal. Wonderful. Thank you so much. And we'll see you soon.